Driving in the USA, Do I really need and IDP?

[AndyP]

Do those that have hired cars in the USA bother to get an international driving permit?

I have a UK photocard licence which as far as I can gather is fine as far as the hire companies are concerned but may cause an issue in the vent of a an insurance claim.

Getting an IDP using my UK licence may be problematic as I no longer reside in the UK but I am reluctant to give it up.

 

[9fingers]

I did not get an IDP when I last drove in the states and my nephew is there now did not get one but there is something you must do.

The paper counterpart to your DL is no longer valid and instead your driving record is stored on line only.

You have to give the hire company (on the day) a one time code of 8 characters plus 8 characters from your drivers number.

You get the OTCs online needing your licence details and your NI number. I'd recommend getting a few codes in reserve just incase they screw up when trying to access your records to be handy.

This pain in the A process is brought you courtesy of protection of your private info as well as maximising inconvenience. You can at least practise the process before you go and take the relevant URLs.

My understanding is that this will have to be done for any vehicle hire even you hiring something in France.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Although this got publicity in the UK press (at least) but few people I've spoken to to know about it.



HTH
Bob

 

[AndyP]

Thanks for the infor Bob, rings a bell now you mentioned it.
I see the code is only valid for 21 days.
I do wonder how many foreign car hire companies would know or care.

I'll add that to my list of things to be done before we travel.

BTW just found out the AA at Eurotunnel Folkestone will issue IDPs on the spot which makes life at lot easier.

 

[kirkpoore1]

Andy:

Even with Bob's guidance, I recommend contacting the rental car company through their website and asking them for their process. This will make sure you have all the relevant documents. You may also be able to do most of the arrangements before arriving, which will mean things will probably be smoother when you're at your most irritated (i.e. right after you've been chewed by US Customs.)

Kirk

 

[TrimTheKing]

I was in the US in May and needed nothing more than passport and license, but whether I should have had something else for my protection I don't know.

In regard to Bob's comment, this thread is the first I've ever heard of this… :shock:

Cheers
Mark

 

[Robert]

And I hired a car in Alaska a month or so ago and all they wanted was the credit card and driving license. I offered the passport but Avis were not interested. A subsequent hire in Canada was similar but they did at least glance at the passport.

Oh and the view driving licence UK online code thing is for Europe only. USA Canada are places it is not needed.

 

[AndyP]

Andy:

Even with Bob's guidance, I recommend contacting the rental car company through their website and asking them for their process. This will make sure you have all the relevant documents. You may also be able to do most of the arrangements before arriving, which will mean things will probably be smoother when you're at your most irritated (i.e. right after you've been chewed by US Customs.)

Kirk

Thanks Kirk, this will be the first time we will have flown with the kids so getting things to run as smoothly as possible is high priority.

 

[AndyP]

I was in the US in May and needed nothing more than passport and license, but whether I should have had something else for my protection I don't know.

In regard to Bob's comment, this thread is the first I've ever heard of this… :shock:

Cheers
Mark

It is only relevant if you only have a photocard licence as there is nowhere to make the points visible. The idea is that interested parties use the code and go on to the DVLA website to check. As I said I can't imagine anyone will be bothered but I will be prepared as it costs nothing.

 

[AndyP]

Oh and the view driving licence UK online code thing is for Europe only. USA Canada are places it is not needed.

Ah, I hadn't realised that.

 

[Robert]

Oh and yes. US immigration do interrogate you a bit to try and catch you out. The fingerprint thing makes you feel like a criminal too

 

[AndyP]

Oh and yes. US immigration do interrogate you a bit to try and catch you out. The fingerprint thing makes you feel like a criminal too

Can't be as bad as being hauled into a small room by over zealous customs in Prague, pre velvet revolution in the mid 80s, when they found a few floppy discs in my briefcase they got very agitated and unpacked my suitcase. They then found an ice axe and crampons. They were not impressed and all the time I could not take my eyes of their armoury. At that time we did not have armed police on the streets or anywhere near airports etc in the UK and this was probably the closest I had ever come to any sort of firearm.
I got very hot and bothered and was mightily relieved when I got out of there intact.

I have been back to Prague since in, a beautiful city, but boy was it far less crowded before 1989.

 

[TrimTheKing]

I was in the US in May and needed nothing more than passport and license, but whether I should have had something else for my protection I don't know.

In regard to Bob's comment, this thread is the first I've ever heard of this… :shock:

Cheers
Mark

It is only relevant if you only have a photocard licence as there is nowhere to make the points visible. The idea is that interested parties use the code and go on to the DVLA website to check. As I said I can't imagine anyone will be bothered but I will be prepared as it costs nothing.

I do have a photo card license… You also have a paper counterpart though so what's wrong with taking that with you?

Cheers
Mark

 

[RogerS]

I was in the US in May and needed nothing more than passport and license, but whether I should have had something else for my protection I don't know.

In regard to Bob's comment, this thread is the first I've ever heard of this… :shock:

Cheers
Mark

It's been around for a while but the consensus in all the replies that I've read on this subject, not a single hire company ever asked for them.

I've never bothered with an IDP either.

 

[9fingers]

I was in the US in May and needed nothing more than passport and license, but whether I should have had something else for my protection I don't know.

In regard to Bob's comment, this thread is the first I've ever heard of this… :shock:

Cheers
Mark

It is only relevant if you only have a photocard licence as there is nowhere to make the points visible. The idea is that interested parties use the code and go on to the DVLA website to check. As I said I can't imagine anyone will be bothered but I will be prepared as it costs nothing.

I do have a photo card license… You also have a paper counterpart though so what's wrong with taking that with you?

Cheers
Mark

Paper counterparts have been null and void for a while now. The only way hire companies and other individuals can check your records is online with a pre-authorised one time code supplied by you.

Bob

 

[TrimTheKing]

Paper counterparts have been null and void for a while now.

Really?? Well I never knew that either! :shock:

On the plus side, I just took a look at mine and noticed that the last of my penalty points has now expired so my license is clean again! :lol: bscene-drinkingcheers:

Cheers
Mark

 

[RogerS]

Oh and yes. US immigration do interrogate you a bit to try and catch you out. The fingerprint thing makes you feel like a criminal too

What fingerprint thing?

I'm more worried about my moral torpitude :lol:

I do remember when I was regularly flying to the US, the amusement in answering that customs document. Particularly the question 'Have you been on a farm'. Thing is, as you guys know, I can be a pedantic little sod and at the grand old age that I am, of course I'd have been on a bloody farm at sometime in my life...let alone currently effectively living in the middle of one. I always answered 'No' until. Until one day and flying into SFO I decided to say 'Yes'. Just for the hang of it.

So I go through Customs and they see I've ticked 'Yes'.

"Are you bringing in any fruit or vegetables?", she asked.

"No", I replied and trying to keep a straight face. "I've been on a farm"

"OK" she said. "Go over and see those guys over there" pointing at a couple of very bored looking blokes shooting the breeze to each other. So I sauntered over and offered my card.

"Are you bringing in any fruit or vegetables?", one of them asked.

"No, Ive been on a farm"

"Were you wearing those shoes?" he asked.

"No"

" Where are the shoes that you were wearing?" he asked.

"I don't know" I replied smiling. " It was over twenty years ago and they're in a dumpster somewhere. It doesn't ask about timeframes on the form" I grinned.

He burst out laughing and said "Fair point, now get outta here"

 

[Robert]

What fingerprint thing?

You are taken to a row of kiosks each with a green panel that you put all 4 fingers on and it scans your prints in... then the thumb on its own. Can't remember for certain but it may have been right hand only... jet lag

May have been a camera at the kiosk too. That was separate to the immigration interrogation - why are you here.. where are you staying...how long... why have you said 15 days on the form when you will be in Canada for 8? Think it amuses them if they can make you squirm a bit. AFAIR the question on the immigration form was how long is your trip.

USA to Canada was just a walk through with no checks at all.

 

[Robert]

One last USA car rental thought.. The CDW (collision damage waiver) extra insurance they try to sell you at the rental desk is pretty expensive. You can buy car rental excess insurance before you go to reimburse you if you did have an accident and get charged the excess 2000/3500 dollars or whatever the figure is. The insurance cost is less than you'd pay for one rental and most polices are for 1 years cover. It also covers windscreen, tyres and underpan which are usually not included in CDW cover.

My last rental only had $800 excess so I did not bother taking any cover.

 

[AndyP]

Thanks Robert, I will check with our insurance first and then look around.