Trip Reports - Is international drivers license needed in Spain?

Not sure where to post this question. I have driven in Belgium and Italy without one. Is an international driver's license needed for Spain or will my Illinois license and passport do just as well? If anyone thinks yes, where would I get one. I had one 30 years ago, but haven't since.

------------------
Ms.DtG

AAA has them, you get them on the spot. Mine was a waste of $ for Chile.

An international driver's license is not needed anywhere, as far as I know.

They are only useful because they are written in multiple languages.

They are not an official license.

[This message has been edited by Austman (edited 01-02-2003).]

Rental agencies in Spain require an international license, or at least one with an official translation into Spanish. They don't always enforce this, but often do.

-alan in seattle

Hertz in Barcelona and Madrid could care less... It seems as long as the agency can read your details, that's all they care about. However if you get stopped by Spanish police, THAT MIGHT be a problem as far as translations go on your license details.

Never a trouble for me in Spain without an international license

An international license *might* be useful as a translation document.

But I've never heard of anyone using using one and I know 100s of international drivers. I've never had a rental agency need one either.

Let's face it - they're issued by motor clubs. They mean nothing, legally.

Diane: The international license is not required in Spain. Your home state license will suffice.

The exception: You run a motorcycle cop off the road or have an accident. Then, it is worth the $10 plus photo cost for one unless you are fluent in Spanish.

Remember also that Spanish cops collect your fine on the spot and can sometimes, like cops everywhere, be somewhat arbitrary in their requests. Better safe than spending time in a Spanish lock-up for lack of a piece of documentation.

Speaking of the police in Spain, I had a very interesting experience in Sitges on Friday night. A group of us were coming back from dinner about 1:30AM, and there was one of the frequent alcohol control checkpoints set up on the way to the highway. They were giving compulsory breathalyzer tests to all drivers. Our car was fine, but our friends behind us were evidently close to the limit for "experienced" drivers at .21% (the limit is .25)! For "inexperienced" drivers the limit is .15%. The police just warned him to drive carefully.

-alan in seattle

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by alanw:
Our car was fine, but our friends behind us were evidently close to the limit for "experienced" drivers at .21% (the limit is .25)! For "inexperienced" drivers the limit is .15%. The police just warned him to drive carefully.

-alan in seattle</font>

He was driving with a blood alcohol level of .21% ? That's a lot! Most people would pass out. There is no way you should let your friends drive with that much alcohol in his blood. Perhaps you meant .021% ?

Well guys, you have convinced me to not take a chance. So I will go get some pictures and then go over to AAA. My brother was in Spain and got a ticket for not having his headlights on going through a tunnel. Fine on the spot. He spoke no English. As you say, it may not be a legal requirement but if a Spanish officer THINKS it is, there's no arguing with him. I hope I don't have this decision tested. thanks

------------------
Ms.DtG

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Austman:
An international driver's license is not needed anywhere, as far as I know.</font>

They are needed in a lot of places. Let's say you're from a country in the Middle East and your license is written only in Arabic. Do you think that the Hertz counter at HNL is going to be able to read it?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">They are only useful because they are written in multiple languages. They are not an official license.</font>

The fact that they are in multiple languages is mostly the point. As you point out, they are not a license themselves per se.

There is some sort of international treaty that was signed long ago by most nations that provides for reciprocal recognition of each other's licenses.

The "international license" serves two main purposes:

- It attests that the accompanied license fits into one of the internationally-recognized license categories (regular passenger vehicle vs. two-wheel motorcycle, etc.)

- It translates the national license into several other languages, so that officials in other countries will be able to read it.

If you are traveling from one English-speaking country to another, it's probably not necessary, as they will of course be able to read your actual license without translation. But if you'll potentially be dealing with a language barrier, I think it's a good idea to have one.[/B][/QUOTE]

I stick by my original post.

I know driver's licences that are NOT in english are absolutely accepted by Hertz in english speaking countries. In the end it's not Hertz's responsibility. It's the driver's. I remember my friends showing Hertz a Swedish bus pass at Hertz in Australia (as a joke - they also had a valid Swedish driver's license) and they took it! It' your credit card that identifies you to Hertz (and other rental companies). For all Hertz knows your proper licence could have been cancelled a day earlier. An intenational license is not a guarantee that your real license is still valid.

International licenses are useful as translation documents only. They might save you time if police stop you.

Incidently, foreigners must carry valid ID at all times in Spain. And a non EU driver's license is NOT valid ID - so keep your passort with you.

I decided to be cautious and went today to get pictures and will go to AAA tomorrow to get the license. My impressioon is that Spanish police are not tourist friendly and could easily look for an extra excuse to put revenue in their coffers. For $10 for the license and $8 for the photos it's worth not taking any chances. And yes, I will always have my passport with me. What I just love about these pictures is that I always look like I need a vacation!!

------------------
Ms.DtG

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Austman:
An international driver's license is not needed anywhere, as far as I know.

They are only useful because they are written in multiple languages.

They are not an official license.

[This message has been edited by Austman (edited 01-02-2003).]</font>

Try renting a car in South Korea without one, and see how far you get.

From the Hertz website, for Spain:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Driver's License

The driver must present a national driver's licence held for a minimum of one year at the time of rental ( three years for vehicle group Luxury).


An International Driver's Permit ( IDP)/ International Driver's Licence (IDL) is strongly recommended for translation purposes (except for customers from the European Community (excluding the United Kingdom) and Latin American countries. IDL/IDP may only be used in conjunction with a national driver's licence.


If you are stopped by a policeman without an IDP/IDL, you may have to pay a fine of EUR 300.51.


For further information please contact our International Reservation Centre.
</font>


[This message has been edited by Austman (edited 01-04-2003).]

Who would think that this question would be so controversial. Better safe than sorry and yes it may be MORE important when driving in countries with a completely different alphabet but I'm getting one nonetheless.

------------------
Ms.DtG

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Austman:
In the end it's not Hertz's responsibility. It's the driver's. [ ... ] An intenational license is not a guarantee that your real license is still valid. [ ... ] International licenses are useful as translation documents only.</font>

All of these are false. The purpose of the document is for the government authorities, not for rental agencies, even though they might like them too. A properly issued international licence should guarantee that your real licence is valid, since they should have checked it. There are countries (though only one I've ever come across - Japan) which demand international drivers licence. I'm sure you can drive without a valid licence at home too, but it may be foolhardy to do so.

Well, whether I need it or not, I've got it!!! Could have gotten my pictures taken there. As a non-member it is $10, regular member $6 and Premium member free, just for anyone else running out to get an international license. They date it as of the first neede use, so you don't have to worry about getting it in advance. Yes, they looked at my regular license to make sure I have a year left on it to coincide with the international license. And I could charge the $10 fee with my starwood card.

------------------
Ms.DtG

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dgordon:
$8 for the photos</font>

$8 for a passport photo???!!! Wow!

$8 net. Went jc penny where it was $15, but there was a $5 coupon online which I found looking for where I could get passport pictures cheaply, which brought it down to $10. Used a gift certificate I got through essentials which gives a 20% discount. For a lot less trouble, AAA does it for $10 for non-members, but I didn't know that until I showed up today at the AAA office. Don't know if they do it for $10 if you just need it for a passport.

------------------
Ms.DtG

[This message has been edited by dgordon (edited 01-04-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Originally posted by Austman:
In the end it's not Hertz's responsibility. It's the driver's. [ ... ] An intenational license is not a guarantee that your real license is still valid. [ ... ] International licenses are useful as translation documents only.
Originally posted by Kremmen:
All of these are false. The purpose of the document is for the government authorities, not for rental agencies, even though they might like them too. A properly issued international licence should guarantee that your real licence is valid, since they should have checked it. There are countries (though only one I've ever come across - Japan) which demand international drivers licence. I'm sure you can drive without a valid licence at home too, but it may be foolhardy to do so.
</font>

All false? Well, errr, maybe...

http://www.drivers.com has some interesting information on IDLs (or more correctly International Driving Permits). See http://www.drivers.com/cgi-bin/go.cgi?type=ART&id=000000206&static=1

In the end it's not Hertz's responsibility. It's the driver's:
Sometimes when driving in other countries I do not rent a car, but am given one by my company. So Hertz and the like are not even involved. You need of course to be able to legally drive in that country.

An intenational license is not a guarantee that your real license is still valid:
It's only a guarantee that it was valid at time of issue of the IDL. You always need your real license too.

International licenses are useful as translation documents only:
OK, leave out the last word.

I've driven in lots of places but not South Korea or Japan. So I admit I'm wrong about IDL requirements in those (and other) countries.

Thanks dgordon for bringing up this topic.


[This message has been edited by Austman (edited 01-05-2003).]

When I rented a car in Belgium, and then in Italy, I didn't give it a second thought. It wasn't until my brother got a ticket in Spain for not having his headlights on through a tunnel that I wondered about this. Thanks again for everyone's input. I guess you never need one until you are stopped...and then it can be up to the particular officer. My brother's experience ....he couldn't wait until he dumped the car. Hope mine is better.
Thanks everyone.

------------------
Ms.DtG

Joh and I are renting a car in Madrid in March and driving to the FT weekend in Valencia, so much of this info is great. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I really WOULD like to know about the drink driver limit.

HERE it is .05. Was in NZ in the Bay Of Islands for NYE and was breathalysed (4 times in the evening!) but I knew the limit was .08 and even at 2am I'd knew I'd be fine.

But I simply cannot believe THREE times that is a legal limit? Even I would not be standing at that level! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

------------------
~ Glen ~

"Did you know that the word Saadam when spelt backwards becomes Madaas?" ------ ® ... Alfred. E. Neuman Esq ... © ------