Driving Licence Translation?

LesW

LesW

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I have read that there may be a need for an International Driving Permit as a translation of my UK driving licence.

Yet when I look at my licence the only English words are 'Driving Licence', the rest is my address.

All the catergories are pictures and numbers/letters, so what needs to be translated?

Do we not share the same driving catergories as the rest of Europe?

I'm confused...o_O
 
The IDP has pictures of what you can drive, as does a UK driving licence, got pictures ticked and a licence for Austria just in case, aparantly I am now licenced to ride a motorbike !!!
 
Never understood this requirement since our licence is the European Model Driving Licence set out in the European Directive on driving licences!
 
The IDP Treaties long preceeded the standard EU licence.

It would take a very 'Jobsworth' Plod to challenge a UK photocard licence. An old paper one might be a different matter.

At present I will take my chances, especially since not at present being in UK there is no way to buy an IDP - no Post Offices on the Continent - who thought that out, as there must be thousands of Brits who cannot get one.

Geoff

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LesW said:
I have read that there may be a need for an International Driving Permit as a translation of my UK driving licence.

Yet when I look at my licence the only English words are 'Driving Licence', the rest is my address.

All the catergories are pictures and numbers/letters, so what needs to be translated?

Do we not share the same driving catergories as the rest of Europe?

I'm confused...o_O
Click to expand...
Yes although understandable to a degree I do feel many people worry far to much about consequences of leaving the EU. I have driven all over Europe since the late 70’s never had an international driving licence in fact don’t think i’ve ever seen one, as far as I can see an EU licence ticks all the boxes. We are currently in Spain and i’m not the slightest concerned about driving licences, green cards, or any other paper nonsense.
 
scotzsue said:
The IDP has pictures of what you can drive, as does a UK driving licence, got pictures ticked and a licence for Austria just in case, aparantly I am now licenced to ride a motorbike !!!
Click to expand...

You go for it girl. Biker chick eh?
 
MHdreaming said:
Yes although understandable to a degree I do feel many people worry far to much about consequences of leaving the EU. I have driven all over Europe since the late 70’s never had an international driving licence in fact don’t think i’ve ever seen one, as far as I can see an EU licence ticks all the boxes. We are currently in Spain and i’m not the slightest concerned about driving licences, green cards, or any other paper nonsense.
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To be honest if Brexit goes bad not having your paper right may cost a lot of money.
 
mpdcymru said:
Never understood this requirement since our licence is the European Model Driving Licence set out in the European Directive on driving licences!
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But after the 29th (allegedly) we won't be in the European community so the licence won't be recognised regardless of what it says or looks like.
 
pappajohn said:
But after the 29th (allegedly) we won't be in the European community so the licence won't be recognised regardless of what it says or looks like.
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I understand that but what I am saying is that the European model licence does not rely upon translation for it to be understood by all Members. The requirement for a traslation is superfluous.

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nicholsong said:
no way to buy an IDP - no Post Offices on the Continent
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We have switched to Greek Licences now and we have IDPs & Greenn Cards. I have often thought that there must be a way to obtain IDPs in each of the countries they relate to ... there are post offices in most, if not all the countries we visit - is that where you start?
 
Janiemou said:
We have switched to Greek Licences now and we have IDPs & Greenn Cards. I have often thought that there must be a way to obtain IDPs in each of the countries they relate to ... there are post offices in most, if not all the countries we visit - is that where you start?
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Most countries have a designated authority for issuing them. They are issued in the country your licence was issued so you would need to get yours in Greece
 
You could in theory get away with not having an IDP pre EU, but what the hell happened should you be involved in a road accident that involved the Police, I do not know.

Of course if you have an accident without a Green Card where you need one, you have no motor insurance cover whatsoever at all so apart from being illegal wherever you are - this is likely to be exceedingly expensive. If you crash into me after the legal cut off - be assured I'd do my utmost to take you to the cleaners so I sincerely trust you are RICH. I hate and despise people who don't insure their vehicles in accordance with the law - and ignorance of the law is NEVER a defence.

A lot of time when we had to nip into the AA shop to get an IDP we were flying wherever and picking the pre-booked hire car at the airport, otherwise not bothering to hire until we were at destination - and nobody foreign could do that without an IDP.

Please yourselves - but weigh up the pros and cons before deciding, I should.
 
LesW said:
Do we not share the same driving catergories as the rest of Europe?
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Yes but after the 29th & with a no deal they will not be legally able to 'recognise ' them

mpdcymru said:
I understand that but what I am saying is that the European model licence does not rely upon translation for it to be understood by all Members. The requirement for a traslation is superfluous.
Click to expand...
pre 29th = I can read them
Post 29th with no deal = I cannot read them. If I wish to be pedantic.

maxi77 said:
Most countries have a designated authority for issuing them. They are issued in the country your licence was issued so you would need to get yours in Greece
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Here it is the DGT , Dirección General de Trafíco . Equivalent to the UK DVLA:
 
gus-lopez said:
Here it is the DGT , Dirección General de Trafíco . Equivalent to the UK DVLA:
Click to expand...

It's a pity the DVLA are not the authorised body then I could get an IDP by post.

How come Post Office Counters Ltd., a private company, are authorised?

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All based on the idea of privatisation and losing civil servant jobs.
 
The government can, as I understand it, appoint its recognised body or agent
 
Well as I said previously they were obtainable from both the AA and also RAC offices but I don't know if they were ever available 'from the Government' or where you'd have had to go. It was just that I (Sedge) worked in the centre of Birmingham just up New Street towards the townhall and the AA office was on the corner of where the ramp up to New St station actually met New St. Hence I could take my husband's driving licence and go and buy him one there. (I didn't drive back then)
 
nicholsong said:
It's a pity the DVLA are not the authorised body then I could get an IDP by post.

How come Post Office Counters Ltd., a private company, are authorised?
Click to expand...

It used to be the AA so a long standing tradition.

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And don't forget, the Post Office carry out many other tax gathering functions for the government e.g Vehicle Excise Duty payments and other (previously) DVLA functions
 
Isn't Mr Driving Licence a Pole not wanted all over Southern Ireland as the Polish licence was never translated into Irish.
 
Has anybody else noticed that the 1949 IDP for Spain only covers C, so if your motorhome is over 3500kg then the 1949 IDP doesnt cover you for C1 in Spain, not sure what HGV alternatives there are.
 
Got that wrong C on the 1949 IDP includes C1, its different to the 1968 IDP, sorry about that.

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