DL for expats
Nov 10, 2009 | 3:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ORD
Posts: 746
DL for expats
I was curious if an expat wants to drive a vehicle in say Mumbai does he/she need an indian driving license or say a US license will work for short periods (less than 2 weeks) as is the case for EU.
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Thx.
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Thx.
Nov 10, 2009 | 4:16 pm
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
I was curious if an expat wants to drive a vehicle in say Mumbai does he/she need an indian driving license or say a US license will work for short periods (less than 2 weeks) as is the case for EU.
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Thx.
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Thx.
[Still, I would suggest getting a valid international driving permit with it first. AAA issues them for a nominal charge: http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html ]
India is a party along with the US in a treaty arrangement that allows licensed drivers from these countries to drive in each others country.
Contracting Parties shall recognize:
(a) Any domestic permit drawn up in their national language or in one of
their national languages, or, if not drawn up in such a language, accompanied by a
certified translation;
(b) Any domestic permit conforming to the provisions of Annex 6 to this
Convention; and
(c) Any international permit conforming to the provisions of Annex 7 to
this Convention;
as valid for driving in their territories a vehicle coming within the categories
covered by the permit, provided that the permit is still valid and that it was
issued by another Contracting Party or subdivision thereof or by an association
duly empowered thereto by such other Contracting Party. The provisions of this
paragraph shall not apply to learner-driver permits.
(a) Any domestic permit drawn up in their national language or in one of
their national languages, or, if not drawn up in such a language, accompanied by a
certified translation;
(b) Any domestic permit conforming to the provisions of Annex 6 to this
Convention; and
(c) Any international permit conforming to the provisions of Annex 7 to
this Convention;
as valid for driving in their territories a vehicle coming within the categories
covered by the permit, provided that the permit is still valid and that it was
issued by another Contracting Party or subdivision thereof or by an association
duly empowered thereto by such other Contracting Party. The provisions of this
paragraph shall not apply to learner-driver permits.
4. The following particulars appear on the driving permit; they shall be
preceded or followed by the numbers 1 to 11.
1. Surname
2. First names 1/
3. Date and place of birth 2/
4. Address 3/
5. Authority issuing the permit
6. Date and place of issue of the permit
7. Date of expiry of the validity of the permit 4/
8. Number of the permit
9. Signature and/or stamp or seal of the authority issuing the permit
10. Holder's signature 5/
11. Category or categories of vehicle and any sub-categories for which the
permit is valid with indication of the date of issue of the permit and
the dates of expiry of the validity for each of those categories.
In addition, the holder's photograph shall be affixed to the driving permit.
It shall be a matter for domestic legislation to determine any additional
particulars to be included in the driving permit as well as the format and the
material on which the driving permit is printed.
---------
Notes:
1/ Father's or husband's name may be inserted here.
2/ If date of birth is unknown, state approximate age on date of issue of
permit. If place of birth is unknown, leave blank. Place of birth may be
replaced by other particulars determined by domestic legislation.
3/ The address is optional.
4/ This is optional if the validity of the permit is unlimited.
5/ Or thumbprint.
preceded or followed by the numbers 1 to 11.
1. Surname
2. First names 1/
3. Date and place of birth 2/
4. Address 3/
5. Authority issuing the permit
6. Date and place of issue of the permit
7. Date of expiry of the validity of the permit 4/
8. Number of the permit
9. Signature and/or stamp or seal of the authority issuing the permit
10. Holder's signature 5/
11. Category or categories of vehicle and any sub-categories for which the
permit is valid with indication of the date of issue of the permit and
the dates of expiry of the validity for each of those categories.
In addition, the holder's photograph shall be affixed to the driving permit.
It shall be a matter for domestic legislation to determine any additional
particulars to be included in the driving permit as well as the format and the
material on which the driving permit is printed.
---------
Notes:
1/ Father's or husband's name may be inserted here.
2/ If date of birth is unknown, state approximate age on date of issue of
permit. If place of birth is unknown, leave blank. Place of birth may be
replaced by other particulars determined by domestic legislation.
3/ The address is optional.
4/ This is optional if the validity of the permit is unlimited.
5/ Or thumbprint.
Last edited by GUWonder; Nov 10, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Nov 10, 2009 | 4:33 pm
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: unreserved car luggage rack
Programs: Indian Railways Wallah Program
Posts: 6,531
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Otherwise a US DL is acceptable
Nov 10, 2009 | 8:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: All over India
Programs: 9W Plat, Flying Blue Elite, HHonors Gold, Accor Le Club Plat
Posts: 814
I was curious if an expat wants to drive a vehicle in say Mumbai does he/she need an indian driving license or say a US license will work for short periods (less than 2 weeks) as is the case for EU.
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Thx.
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Thx.
Nov 11, 2009 | 3:12 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Santa Clara CA USA
Programs: CX SL, SQ SL
Posts: 277
I didn't find the RTO in Tamil Nadu particularly corrupt, and obtaining a licence was straightforward once I finished the short drivers test. Other states may be different, Delhi included, but getting an Indian licence is not as bad an experience as it used to be, at least not in big cities.
As for actually driving, I hope you're familiar with manual transmission, or plan in advance to get a car with auto. It can't be too bad for an American to drive in India - other drivers might just give him/her way because they're impressed with the person's bravery
As for actually driving, I hope you're familiar with manual transmission, or plan in advance to get a car with auto. It can't be too bad for an American to drive in India - other drivers might just give him/her way because they're impressed with the person's bravery
Nov 11, 2009 | 7:50 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
My recent experience with the RTO (where I had to cancel an endorsement on my car's RC book) was entirely trouble free, friendly and polite. As have been several trips over the last few years to the passport office to get additional booklets for my passport.
Nov 11, 2009 | 10:12 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
I was curious if an expat wants to drive a vehicle in say Mumbai does he/she need an indian driving license or say a US license will work for short periods (less than 2 weeks) as is the case for EU.
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Thx.
If you believe that driving licenses in India are a joke and the system is corrupt please avoid pontificating and responding to my request. The question is intended to determine the correct way to get vehicle driving privileges in India when the chauffeur is not available.
Thx.
Nov 11, 2009 | 11:39 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Santa Clara CA USA
Programs: CX SL, SQ SL
Posts: 277
As in the case of the rule permitting photography at the airport, it might be useful to carry a copy of the rules from post #2 along with the US license, to show if necessary. I've never had a bad experience by being courteous and reasonable with authorities in India, whether it was the customs, the RTO or police.
Nov 12, 2009 | 7:24 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
As in the case of the rule permitting photography at the airport, it might be useful to carry a copy of the rules from post #2 along with the US license, to show if necessary. I've never had a bad experience by being courteous and reasonable with authorities in India, whether it was the customs, the RTO or police.
. A copy of the rules could deter a policeman or an officer from trying to extract a few hundred rupees from you, but it does not guarantee success. Now, FTers are supposed to carry a copy of rules for lounge use that show that they are allowed entry into the lounge, TSA rules about what they are allowed to take trough the checkpoint, and now, rules for DL.
It really depends on the officer you are dealing with. I have taken pictures at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with one of the guards identifiably visible.
If you are visibly foreign looking, some will go out of their way to help you while some will treat you as a windfall.
Nov 25, 2009 | 6:24 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 1 AU
Programs: Support the Tyrants Travel Club
Posts: 2,708
Interesting. I got an IDP just in case, though. I wonder if Avis will rent me a car if I'm not quite 23 yet, though...
If they don't, what exactly is an average daily rate (24 hours, let's say) I can expect to pay for a chauffer (minimal driving, just within BOM city limits)?
If they don't, what exactly is an average daily rate (24 hours, let's say) I can expect to pay for a chauffer (minimal driving, just within BOM city limits)?
Nov 25, 2009 | 7:06 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
Interesting. I got an IDP just in case, though. I wonder if Avis will rent me a car if I'm not quite 23 yet, though...
If they don't, what exactly is an average daily rate (24 hours, let's say) I can expect to pay for a chauffer (minimal driving, just within BOM city limits)?
If they don't, what exactly is an average daily rate (24 hours, let's say) I can expect to pay for a chauffer (minimal driving, just within BOM city limits)?