3 ms·
The IDP feels like such a scam. I have to get it every year and it is so annoying.
by avgDev 2y ago
The IDP feels like such a scam. I have to get it every year and it is so annoying.
- csomar 2y agoIt doesn’t feel like a scam. It IS a scam. You were able to get a 3 year valid one but now they reduced it to 1 year. If my permit is valid for 10 years, so should the IDP. But then it’d cost x10 if they were to keep the same profit. So suddenly asking for close to $200 will feel outrageous. Just shows how corruption can be worse than a monetary loss.
- YZF 2y agoYou don't even need it most of the time. Almost every country will just accept a driver's license from most other countries as long as it's fairly standard and has a section in English. I've driven in dozens of countries with my local driver's license.
- jhugo 2y agoYeah, I don't bother any more, but it has happened a couple of times to me in Europe that a rental car company asked for it and then refused to rent without it. In both cases I just walked over to a different company's desk and they didn't ask.
- avgDev 2y agoI've had several companies refuse rental and ask for IDP. $20 to avoid hassles is worth it for me.
- jhugo 2y agoUnfortunately I don’t live in the country my license was issued in, so until I get a local license (which takes some time) I don’t have much choice, since the alternative is flying half way around the world to get an IDP. The whole system is a bit flawed.
- jhugo 2y agoThere are some websites that will issue a translation of your license that looks very similar to the "official" IDP. Depending on where you're going it might be sufficient. (Generally works fine for avoiding police "coffee money" shakedowns in Southeast Asia, for example.)