If you move to another eu country, you dont usually have to exchange your driving licence for a local one. For example, the uk allows canadians to drive on their native licenses for up to 12 months, if you are a long time resident. After you have been in italy for one year you will be expected to get an italian license. You can get a finnish drivers license after living permanently in finland for two years if the aforementioned criterias are fulfilled. The international driving permit idp is a document that provides important information from your drivers license in eleven different languages, including english. The process of establishing reciprocity continues to be slow, since many informal agreements require individual tailoring to meet the requirements of each u. When planning your trip, consider an international driving permit. Whether youre american or canadian, your passport and drivers license are all you need in most european countries. Its a valid form of identification in 150 countries on six continents. Whether youre american or canadian, your passport and driver s license are all you need in most european countries. International driving permit idp europe for visitors.
It translates your license into 10 other languages. You should check with the embassy of the country you plan to visit or live in to find specific drivers license requirements. Driving in ireland with a us license and staying calm. If you are driving in germany with a foreign drivers license then you must be 18 years of age or older, and many us drivers licenses are not. Although an american drivers license is generally accepted in europe for car rentals, it is best to get an international drivers license idl before going to europe. The licence is currently issued by all of the eea member states. Since 2015, poland requires from american driver license holders an. That said, im unsure how easy would getting a finnish drivers license be if you have an american drivers license since most of them entitle you to drive automatic only. For driving in the eu, it is required to either possess an eu driving license, possess an international. Yes, if you keep residing in the usa and are just visiting. Driving licence exchange and recognition in the eu your europe. Unless one ends up in poland and assumes that poland is like any other eu country.
As car rental specialists with over 60 years of experience assisting drivers around the world we know all there is to know about how to safely and legally drive in a foreign country. Americans headed to brazil or uruguay, however, will need a different document called an inter american driving permit. I realize that this post is not london specific, but since the london forum appears to receive as much traffic as the other uk forums combined, im posting it here. How to obtain a european drivers license bizfluent. Iceland, liechtenstein and norway, as well as the united kingdom during the transition period after the uk. More info for transfer your drivers license from a foreign country you may drive in the united states with your valid foreign drivers license as a visitor. Aaa accepts applications by mail, but processing time may be. Driving in france france in the united states embassy. This small paper booklet looks like a passport and includes your photograph, plus information from your license translated into 10 different languages. Before you travel, check with the embassy of the country youll visit. Many european countrieslike the united kingdom and irelandrecognize u. Geographical areas which honor interamerican driving permits convention on regulation of interamerican motor vehicle traffic, organization of. As a general rule, it is the country where you live for at least 185 days each calendar year because. Dont ask me how to get one because i have no idea, i just know that you can.
State drivers license without an idp is insufficient. Driving licence exchange and recognition in the eu your. This document came into existence by virtue of a treaty signed in 1949 by the united states and other foreign countries. To get an eu driving licence you must be usually resident in the eu country where you are applying. You can have only one eu driving licence at any one time. The american automobile association and the american automobile touring alliances national automobile club are the only entities in the united states to issue idps as for recognising your country license, each eu country is different. This, coupled with your us drivers license, is recognised in over 70 countries. Army in europe usareur drivers license allows service members, civilians and their family members to drive in germany without going through the process of attaining a local drivers license. You must apply for a licence in the country where you usually or regularly live.
However, some countries also require an international driving permit idp. In most european countries, your american driver s license and passport are all you need to rent a car. My drivers license expired last autumn september 20. It is also used as the basis for an international driving permit, which allows you to hit the road throughout europe. Heading to pick up a car from hertz seems to be just another seamless activity. But beware of socalled international drivers license scams. Transfer your drivers license from a foreign country. Does one need international driving license to drive in europe or will us license do. For the drivers license, we register all the information into the database system and if the id card or drivers license is checked using a data reading machine, all your information will show up in the system and you shall legally use the document. In addition to specific country laws, rental car companies. Can a 16 with an american drivers license drive in europe. Buy drivers license online real drivers license buy i. The american automobile association issues international drivers licenses in the united states for us citizens who go to france for a short period of time less than 90 days.
Driving in the uk for americans london forum tripadvisor. Drivers licenses international drivers permit, renew. Some european countries require americans to have an international drivers permit, while most do not. An idp is an official translation of your us license making it easier for the cop to write out a ticket. An american tourist who likely knows no german beyond gesundheit, and even less about german traffic laws can rent a car and drive in germany with his or her us drivers license. Is your american drivers license valid in europe answers.
If youre planning a trip to europe for leisure or business and plan on driving while youre there, youll need to acquire an international drivers permit sometimes erroneously called an international driving license, but do note that an international drivers permit is different from a european drivers license, which is an eudesigned drivers license designed to replace individual country. The majority of expats that wish to obtain a driving license in the us will have to go through the full application process. Here you can obtain a german drivers license at 17, however in order to do this you must be a german citizen. International driving permits are required in the following countries for us licensed drivers. Sanctioned by the us department of state, it translates your drivers license. The european driving licence is a driving licence which replaced the various driving licence. Obtaining a dutch drivers license drivers licenses issued in an eu member state, lichtenstein, norway or iceland, are valid in the netherlands.
The international driving permit is an official document that certifies the validity of your home drivers license in 10 languages. As for recognising your country license, each eu country is. Be sure to take your time, as skipping any steps may hinder your ability to pass the official test. Visit your nearest aaa branch to get an international driving permit. The european driving licence is a driving licence which replaced the various driving licence styles formerly in use in the member states of the european economic area eea. A drivers license is an official document, often plastic and the size of a credit card, permitting a specific individual to operate one or more types of motorized vehicles, such as a motorcycle, car, truck, or bus on a public road most american jurisdictions issue a driver license but some a drivers license, which is conversationally american english. The idp is an official document that certifies the validity of your home drivers license in 150 countries.
Take it from the worldrenowned expert on travel in europe, rick steves. It is illegal to drive without a valid license and insurance in most countries. You can drive with a us license in ireland and northern ireland, as long as it is valid while you are traveling. However, some countries require an international driving permit. I hadnt used the licensedriven anywhere in several years at the time that it expired, but now im thinking of using it again for short tripsrentals.
This, coupled with your us driver s license, is recognised in over 70 countries. If youre renting a car in europe, you need an international drivers license. This free site was created to assist you with learning the material and testing your knowledge of the usareur driver license manual for germany how to use this site. International drivers license laws may vary depending on where you go. You must also meet the usual car rental age requirements check rental car agency for details. The american automobile association and the american automobile touring alliances national automobile club are the only entities in the united states to issue idps.
In most european countries, your american drivers license and passport are all you need to rent a car. Americans may use an international driving permit for six months from the date of entry into poland. In order to drive in poland, american citizens must have either an international driving permit or a polish national drivers license. But a noneu resident has to get a german license after six months in order to drive in germany without breaking the law. Drivers licenses issued in all other countries can only be used for 185 days after making residence in the netherlands, after which you will need to apply for a. Driving instructions for europe travel tips usa today. The international driving permit, or idp is a document that over 150 united nations member countries have adopted to allow properly licensed drivers from one member state to drive the roads and byways of other member states.
Driving in the uk for americans canadians, too having lurked in this forum for months before completing my trip to the uk, i feel i should try to contribute in a meaningful way. Forces drivers training program for europe 2 hrs course description u. The details of the procedures, like the documents you need to present and fees you need to pay, will differ from state to state but the general steps are usually the same. Credentials marked with temporary, limited term, or driver privilege only terms cannot be converted, as there is no equivalent massachusetts credential.
Also, get information on renting a car and what other documents you may need while driving in the u. You dont need to get an international drivers license. If you are a licensed driver over the age of 18, you can apply for, and receive, the international license in a fairly short amount of time, with little hassle. Yes, but there are country specific requirements that you should be aware of first. Its recognized in more than 150 countries, according to aaa. You can find the application on aaas website here or on aatas website here.
Forces certificate of license training course usa007 provides service members and civilians the resources, videos and a pretest in order to prepare for the issuance of a certificate of license for driving in europe. If youre planning a european vacation, youll no doubt want to know if you can legally drive a car during your stay using an american driver s license. Members of the european community can have their drivers licenses converted to italian but u. The steering wheel on the right and traffic, is only in the uk and i think ireland, not the rest of europe. A tourists guide to driving in europe radisson blu. However, you can voluntarily exchange it for an equivalent one in your new country of residence if you wish. Driving in europe with us licenses is acceptable in most countries, but a. For driving in the eu, it is required to either possess an eu driving license, possess an international driving license which is legally an official translation of the national licen. Your name and other license information are shown in a standard, internationally recognized format, and a passportsize photo completes the. I could wait until im back in the states again to renew, but i dont have plans to go back in the near future. This arrangement is only acceptable for the first six months of. You could simply get an international driving permit.
Americans traveling abroad can order an international driving permit online or in person through their local aaa branch or through the american automobile. A priority issue for american citizens resident in germany is the reciprocal recognition of drivers licenses from the two countries. Traveling in europe is easy, hoping from country to country and renting locally cars at any known car rentals like hertz is easy and predictable. International driving permit faq learn with auto europe. A properly issued idp, when carried with a valid drivers license issued by the travelers resident country or state.
1094 601 1198 92 709 1422 392 279 888 921 1017 146 1172 114 643 1196 1167 121 1383 869 1065 1097 1434 637 22 1407 27 449 1000 271 829 781 137 54 380 214 738 1454 386 511 283 173 272 1393 718 954