Do you plan on driving while you are abroad? If so, you might need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP). Here’s how to obtain an International Driving Permit from AAA if you plan on driving while on a trip abroad. The following article is based on information if you live in California. Check with your own state for any variations.
AAA Membership
You do not have to have AAA membership in order to obtain an International Driving Permit in California. As long as you have a full, valid driving licence and the correct fee, you will be issued an International Driving Permit within minutes of arrival at the AAA office.
Passport Photos
Before you stop by AAA, make sure that you have two passport sized photos. If you do not have any passport photos when you turn up at AAA, you will need to pay an additional $15 fee for two passport sized photos in addition to the $15 for the International Driving Permit, bringing the total to $30 for an International Driving Permit that is obtained in California.
Countries
An International Driving Permit that is issued in California can be used in over 185 countries around the world. This includes countries in Central and South America, Europe, Africa, Australasia and Oceania.
Full Valid Driving Licence
It is important to bear in mind that an International Driving Permit is not the same as a full driving licence. In order to obtain an International Driving Permit, you must produce a full, valid driving licence. A driving permit or provisional licence will not suffice and you must be of age to drive in other countries around the world. In some countries, you must be 17 years of age to be legal to drive there. If you do not meet the other country’s requirements, you will not be able to drive while you are abroad.
Once you have established your eligibility for an International Driving Permit and you have checked that your personal details are correct, you must then sign the document underneath your photograph. The document will then be valid for one year from the date of issue. It must accompany your full stateside driving licence at all times in case a police officer or some other person in authority needs to see it.
Once you have obtained an International Driving Permit from AAA, you must make sure that you are confident about driving in another country. If you are visiting a country you have not been to before, it is worth your while to learn as much as you can about the driving laws of the country you will be visiting. A lot of countries use international road signs that are not seen in America. Spend some time looking online and researching some of the road signs, laws and other relevant rules of the road. If a police office pulls you over for a traffic violation, you could be subject to prosecution under the country’s laws. Pleading ignorance of the country’s road traffic laws will not help your cause.
This is just an overview of what is involved in obtaining an International Driving Permit in California. If you have any further questions that have not been covered in this article, contact your nearest AAA for clarification and more details.
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