International Driver Permit requirement in Florida

The AA are currently strongly recommending an IDP.

Well they would, they are a profit making company

The AA are currently strongly recommending an IDP.

Well they would, they are a profit making company

The only change here is that FHP is delaying ENFORCEMENT of the law.

My concern is that is IS still the law and I havent heard anything from any insurance company to say they WILL still insure drivers even though they would be driving technically against the law if they dont have an IDP.

I too would suggest getting an IDP. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

[Neil]

The AA are currently strongly recommending an IDP.

Well they would, they are a profit making company

The only change here is that FHP is delaying ENFORCEMENT of the law.

My concern is that is IS still the law and I havent heard anything from any insurance company to say they WILL still insure drivers even though they would be driving technically against the law if they dont have an IDP.

I too would suggest getting an IDP. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Hertz posted on their FB page that UK travellers would still be fully insured and would have no issue renting a car without an IDP while the law is challenged.

As Neil said you would still be insured as the owner of the vehicle I.e. the rental company has to establish you can legally drive their vehicle. In this situation where the law itself appears to be unlawful there should be no problem. The FHP are not interested in enforcing it and in Canada they are issuing refunds to all person who have bought IDP's

Flying to New York on Friday and then on to Miami early next week so went to the local PO and got my IDP yesterday.

I'm taking the safe option on the basis that if I am stopped the person stopping me may or may not have all the facts and I'd rather not go through the pain of not have all the correct documentation and whatever consequences that may bring.

As others have said, pay your £5.50 (or £10.50 if like me you can't find the 2 pictures left over from the last passport application made 4 years ago and you put in a safe place for future use) and be sure that you can say "yes Sir" when the nice officer/rental clerk/insurance investigator asks if you have all the correct documentation.

The litigious nature of American society means it could cost you a lot more if you're found not to have everything in order.

Miopyk 8D

http://www.theledger.com/article/201303 ... Permit-Law

Looks like this "mistake" has now been rectified.

http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/florida-to- ... -1.1194553

In the second link the CAA (Canadian automobile association) are refunding recently bought licences y)

David

http://www.theledger.com/article/20130312/NEWS/130319691/1374?Title=Florida-Lawmakers-Set-to-Repeal-Driving-Permit-Law

Looks like this "mistake" has now been rectified.

http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/florida-to- ... -1.1194553

In the second link the CAA Canadian automobile association are refunding recently bought licences y)

David

Thanks for posting this update, David y) Only 5 weeks until we go and I was toying with the idea of getting one just in case!

Sense has prevailed for once ^)

I heard about this about 4 or 5 weeks ago through our local heart radio station and it was quite clear that travel to the states from 01/01/2013, if you were intending on driving out there in a hire car or any other you will be required to have an IDP unless you have an american driving license.

I popped down to the local post office and actually it is so simple and easy to complete and only at £5.50 and lasts for 1 year from issue and to be honest the categories it covers if you are a frequent flyer and travel to different parts of the world that are valid with the same type of IDP that america is then it's really cost effective but still at £5.50 and to know you are completely covered in the extremely rare event of an accident and completely covered it is for peace of mind.

I have mine and will be using it for the first time when we travel on 18/04/2013 to MCO for 15 nights so will let you all know what the hire company says as I hired my car with alamo through expedia but they did require all of my documentation last year passport, paper part, and photocard.

[buns]

Just given my Alamo Car back before our flight home. At no time was I asked to show the International Permit

It has featured on the local news over here about how the rescinding of this is going through the State Legislators and the FHP are not enforcing it

buns

Just given my Alamo Car back before our flight home. At no time was I asked to show the International Permit

It has featured on the local news over here about how the rescinding of this is going through the State Legislators and the FHP are not enforcing it

buns

Thanks for that, buns, panic over then . Though I did get one in advance of my MCO trip, just in case .

I got my IDP on Friday for my trip to Florida in May. I took the view that for £5.50 it is not worth the risk of not having one - you don't want to give any insurer an open and shut reason to avoid paying a claim.

Interestingly, when I went to the Post Office in Nottingham for my IDP and told the "greeter" I had come for an IDP, the instant response was "off to Florida are you?". At Nottingham PO, there is only one counter that issues IDP's - I only had to wait about 10mins, but the guy who served me said that they have had waits in excess of 2.5hrs at times over the past few days. Ouch.

[Neil]

It has been repelled and as Buns said is going through the Senate this week so there is definitely now no need to get one.

The AA, who also issue the IDP's, have made clear on their website that Florida Lawmakers seem to have boobed. They apparently assumed all out of country licenses to be written in languages other than English and therefore passed the law requiring the IDP which is in fact a translation of the domestic license. The AA say it expects the law to be recinded this month. I guess it's watch this space. The Florida State has apparently given an udertaking that the law will not be enforced, but it in fact can be enforced by over enthusiastic law officers if they should choose to do so. Hopefully this month will see the anomally resolved!

The IDP requirement for visitors to Florida is now a thing of the past. The Governor signed the relevant amendment this week.

The press release says "sorry and we won't do it again" - (I paraphrase of course!)

Think everyone who went out and bought one specifically for travel to Florida will be entitled to a refund?

Think everyone who went out and bought one specifically for travel to Florida will be entitled to a refund?

In a word Ian - NO!

What about elsewhere in the US?

[Neil]

What about elsewhere in the US?

No, not needed anywhere in the US.

Thanks Neil - that was what I thought, and then yesterday I was reading (the AA site again, I think) about other places in the US needing one. It was quite vague, which didn't help.

Think everyone who went out and bought one specifically for travel to Florida will be entitled to a refund?

In a word Ian - NO!

Due to the updates on this site I did not buy one for my trip in April so will not be thinking about wasting my money y)