Idp

[powder]

Does anyone know what an International Drivers Permit looks like?

Paper PERMIT, not license.

[farmer_giles_of_ham]

http://www.geocities.com/bkkriders/l.../road1949.html

scroll down to "annex 10"

but all codes that explicitly reference this model allow for "substantial conformity"- as long as it is essentially the same. The annex here describes a standard model.

[powder]

Good info. Now if there were some sample images...

[farmer_giles_of_ham]

The model contained in the annex is the sample image. It is a very simple handmade certificate, just a standard way of establishing communication in foreign lands.

If you look at the convention, the only real purpose of the IDP is to show basic personal info, and the only real purpose of the conforming standard in registration is to show ownership and residence of the vehicle (ownership=responsibility, and residence=flag) Maybe you didnt know there is actually an International Registration Permit, as well- it's any authorized certificate that conforms to the standard.

For the same reason National/State Driver Licenses that conform are also valid, although these may need a translation (which is also what the IDP does, if it has all the various languages on it)

The challenge is that most people think legality flows from the document, rather than the other way around. Vehicle codes from outside the U.S. are a little more clear on this, but all states and countries are under the same standards and legal intents.

[Shoonra]

The IDP exists primarily to held identify the driver, not the vehicle (most tourists will probably be using a rented or borrowed vehicle). Essentially the IDP provides translations into several languages of the basic info on the driver's home DL. This primarily moves things along if stopped by the police in a foreign country where there might be a language problem. Legally the IDP is not supposed to used by itself but only in accompaniment with the driver's home country DL.

In the US, the AAA is legally authorized to issue IDPs, which it does for about $15. The AAA insists on seeing the official DL to work up the IDP.

There are con artists out there, advertising on the internet, that they will issue IDPs with any sort of name, birthdate, whatever, for prices approaching $300. Beware. These guys send out IDPs supposedly issued by travel agents in the third world, but the IDP convention says that the IDP must be issued by an authorized body within the driver's home country.... and that the IDP is supposed to duplicate the information on the official ID or DL.

[farmer_giles_of_ham]

California
CAVC 12503. "A nonresident over the age of 18 years whose home state or country does not require the licensing of drivers may operate a foreign vehicle owned by him for a period not to exceed 30 days without obtaining a license under this code."

AND...

int'l convention geneva 1949

CHAPTER V. DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC

Article 24

2. A Contracting State may however require that any driver admitted to its territory shall carry an international driving permit conforming to the model contained in Annex 10, especially in the case of a driver coming from a country where a domestic driving permit is not required or where the domestic permit issued to him does not conform

along with...

PA VEHICLE CODE TITLE 75

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
§ 102. Definitions.

"Resident."
A person dwelling permanently or continuously for a period exceeding 60 consecutive days within this Commonwealth, except that a person who regularly dwells in two or more states shall declare residence to be in any one of the states.

It always helps to compare the different vehicle codes because they all say the same thing in different ways.

What is especially interesting to me is that since license and registration are required only for "motor transport", according to the codes, and this convention contemplates using an automobile where a domestic license is not required, but still needing an IDP- what does that make this IDP?

It must be a civil certificate of basic info required under traditional police powers, even "private transit"
(travel, recreational use, not-for-hire) needs to be identified for civil purposes.

Dont pay anyone a cent for any IDP, just copy the format yourself from the convention- you are authorized, the IDP is just a translation and must accompany the original privilege/right/immunity.

[farmer_giles_of_ham]

It always helps to compare the various codes...

http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_d...2-1998.t4.html

(a bit edited for simplicity purpose)

2. Vehículos a motor extranjeros matriculados en Estados parte en el Convenio Internacional de Ginebra y sus remolques:

1. De conformidad con lo acordado en el Convenio Internacional de Ginebra, de 19 de septiembre de 1949, sobre circulación por carretera, los vehículos a motor matriculados en cualquiera de los Estados parte en el mismo podrán circular por las vías públicas cuando llevaren en su parte posterior, al menos, e inscrito en una placa o en el propio vehículo, el número de matrícula atribuido a éste por la autoridad competente de su país.


2. Los conductores de los vehículos a motor a que se refiere este apartado deberán ser portadores del certificado de matrícula, expedido por las autoridades competentes de su país o por una asociación legalmente habilitada al efecto.

En estos certificados deberá figurar, por lo menos, el número de matrícula del vehículo, el nombre o marca del constructor de éste, el número de fabricación y el número de serie del constructor y la fecha en que el vehículo fue primeramente matriculado, así como el nombre, apellidos y domicilio permanente del titular del certificado.

Los certificados de matrícula expedidos en las condiciones precedentes serán aceptados como presunción legal de la exactitud de los datos correspondientes.


3. Vehículos a motor extranjeros matriculados en Estados que no sean parte del Convenio Internacional de Ginebra y sus remolques:

Los vehículos a motor matriculados en cualquiera de los Estados que no sean parte del de Ginebra, de 19 de septiembre de 1949, podrán circular bien en las condiciones previstas en el apartado anterior...

It basically says that any vehicle that substantially conforms to the list of requirements for a registration/title certificate, from any state in the world at all, shall enjoy the presumption of legality.

The certificate just has to identify the vehicle and the owner.

This is the international standard applicable everywhere. There is nothing else that can be achieved except to certify relevant facts- who is the driver, what capacity and status, who owns the vehicle, which vehicle, what kind of machine, etc.

[Shoonra]

Dont pay anyone a cent for any IDP, just copy the format yourself from the convention- you are authorized, the IDP is just a translation and must accompany the original privilege/right/immunity.

The international convention creating the IDP requires that each nation designate one or more authorized issuers of the IDP. The authorized IDP carries some assurance that it accurately reports and translates the necessary information. I know of nothing that allows for home-brew IDPs. Some other countries are very specific that a foreign driver present both his DL and IDP to rent a vehicle, and they probably will balk at an "unofficial" IDP. Possibly similar hassles if you're stopped by a foreign traffic cop. Most people think that the $15 charged by AAA is not too much to avoid such arguments.

[farmer_giles_of_ham]

since we are talking about international circumstances, here is some more law from abroad- and I found the same thing in english, for Japan

* Los nacionales de otros países que estén expedidos de conformidad con el Anexo 9 de la Convención de Ginebra, o con el Anexo 6 de la Convención de Viena, o que difieran de dichos modelos únicamente en la adopción o supresión de rúbricas no esenciales.

"foreign licenses that conform to the int'l convention...or that differ from these models only in the adoption or suppression of non essential rubrics"

* Los nacionales de otros países que estén redactados o vayan acompañados de una traducción oficial del mismo.

"foreign licenses that are redacted or translated"
(like the IDP)

* Los internacionales expedidos en el extranjero de conformidad con el Anexo 10 de la Convención de Ginebra, o de acuerdo con el modelo de Anexo E de la Convención Internacional de París, si se trata de naciones adheridas a este Convenio que no hayan suscrito o prestado adhesión al de Ginebra.

"international driver permits expedited abroad in conformity with the Geneva Road Traffic convention..."

in conformity

with only non essential differences
----------------------------------------

By all means, get the $15 AAA IDP! The problem is that they only give them in translation of a "drivers license to operate motor vehicles". If you want one for mere "recreational use", driver-in-private-transit...look elsewhere.