International Drivers License
Jun 20, 2009 | 1:59 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MUC (home), DUS (office), XXX (customer)
Programs: LH, AB, SPG, CC, Sixt, EC
Posts: 6,332
As a US license holder, you are ok as long as you do not take residence. Your license is valid, however, you officially require a translation or an international driving permit.
Considering the case of a US salesman travelling from hotel to hotel you can be good for ever.
However, as soon as you take residence (residence is defined in sec. 7 StVG) you have half a year during which you can still use your US issued license (with a translation or international driving permit).
After this grace period you need to apply for a German license which can be quite painful even for some US citizens. Depending on the state your license comes from, you either need to take a full driving test, a theoretical drving test or no driving test. The most infamous examples are New York and California licenses, you need to pass a full driving test.
Considering the case of a US salesman travelling from hotel to hotel you can be good for ever.
However, as soon as you take residence (residence is defined in sec. 7 StVG) you have half a year during which you can still use your US issued license (with a translation or international driving permit).
After this grace period you need to apply for a German license which can be quite painful even for some US citizens. Depending on the state your license comes from, you either need to take a full driving test, a theoretical drving test or no driving test. The most infamous examples are New York and California licenses, you need to pass a full driving test.
US citizen, spending 95% of time in the US, US license (NJ) and also being registered in Germany (both citizenships) Basically close to no driving in Germany with either own or rental cars but once in a while it happens.
The clerk told me that my friend is safe with US/IDB as long as he can prove that he has not been to Germany longer than half a year. The reason is that he also needs a license in the US and therefore he can't just switch for short trips and have new one issued as he would have to give up "the other one" each time.
Jun 20, 2009 | 11:39 am
#32
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
However, there was one silver lining: if you paid your ticket in cash within 24 hours, it automatically "plea bargained" into a non-moving violation (at least, it did back around 2000).
I'm sure the city made a lot of money on these tickets...that's a good incentive to show up and pay fast. I got my ticket the first day I moved there and learned quickly to just sit there on red lights whenever I was driving downtown.
Jun 21, 2009 | 8:54 am
#33
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 52,780
Please note that even though no one asked a previous poster for a IDL while renting or crossing borders, you are still well advised to keep one with you when travelling. Exetremely useful when caught for a driving violation of any kind.
Jun 21, 2009 | 11:48 am
#34
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
No doubt... In retrospect, had I seen that blurb about Austria requiring them, I would have driven over to the AAA office and gotten one just in case. I will probably get one before I rent in the non-English-speaking world again.