Things to know about International Driver’s Permits (IDP)
Do you travel a lot? Are you confused about why you may need an International Driver’s Permit (IDP)? We clear up the confusion for you.
The Automobile Association of South Africa describes an IDP as ”a legal document that endorses your South African driver’s licence”.
So, what’s the benefit of having an IDP? Well, an IDP is an official document recognised in over 150 countries. It provides important information to validate your SA driver’s licence in many different languages, including English. The document is accepted as an additional source of identification and helps to break down language barriers when travelling in non-English speaking countries.
Some countries will not recognise your SA driver’s licence, but will officially recognise an IDP. Other countries might honour your valid SA driver’s licence but will require a local language translation to be supplied by your embassy or consulate. Car rental in some countries could be tricky too, as they often ask for an IDP for insurance purposes; while a road accident in a foreign country could lead to your SA driving licence (without a corresponding IDP) being disputed.
Here are 5 things you might want to know about IDP’s:
Keep in mind that even if you are in possession of an IDP, you still need to have your South African driver’s permit with you.
An IDP can only be issued if you are able to validate your SA driver’s licence.
Your IDP must be issued in the same country that issued your original driver’s licence.
The AA in South Africa can assist applicants in possession of a valid driver’s licence issued in the UK and USA by sending your documents back to the issuing authority.
By law your IDP cannot be used in the country in which it was issued. So, if your IDP was issued in South Africa, you cannot use it when driving in South Africa and will have to produce your valid SA driver’s licence if you are stopped by a law enforcement official.