I wanted to apply for international driver's license here in India and use it in US. Those who had applied for it and got it please post your experiences. Also let me know how far you are making use of it in US and was it useful to you?

Thanks

I think it depends on what state.. NYS allows you to transfer your international driver lic to a nys one. google nys dmv for specific info...

Depends what states you plan to drive in. Not all states acknowledge the International Drivers License, I know Illinois does not.

I am interested in Utah. I am going through its dmv. But I want to find out how many have really take this route ... apply for International driver's licence and how many have made use of it! What are the practical problems they faced while obtaining it in India and using it in US. Any other related information is also welcome.

Thanks,
ravi

An IDL is a translation booklet, carried with your actual government issued drivers license when driving outside of your home country enabling foreign officials to comprehend your actual state or nationally issued drivers license. An IDL grants no driving privileges of any kind as they are issued by travel agencies. Any entity suggesting otherwise should be avoided

http://driverlicense.utah.gov/driving_privilege_licnese.html

hi,

I thought of learning to drive in india and get the intl driving license.... but changed my mind since in usa alll cars are automatic... so i have started learning to drive/... with a fresh mind

Jigi

Whether I use it or not, I decided to take the IDL. Might be useful or not useful, but don't want to regret for not getting it !

Went to the local RTA office here near Kharkhana (Hyderabad) since I belong to Tarnaka area. Got hold of application form and medical form for Rs.5. Further requirements are
1) passport number
2) visa number
3) Rs.651 to be paid in cash at counter
4) existing driving license
5) two passport size photos

The medical form has to be got filled in by the doctor who sits in the RTA office after getting examined by him. To pay him Rs.50 for his services.

Now the question is requirement no.2 i.e, visa number. I don't have a visa. Can I still apply? Also how many days it would take for them to issue IDL? Couldn't get proper answers from the people moving at RTA. I guess I need to ask the RTA officials then?

I agree with fwaguy. Can the moderator, please pin this in appropriate forum?

There is no official International Driving License. On the contrary, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation in multiple languages of your actual driving license. IDP is obtained in the driver's home country (can't be obtained in US once you leave India). When leaving the home country, a person should obtain a translation of the home country DL in the spoken language of the country to be visited. While lack of a translation does not invalidate a home country license, having one makes it easier for law enforcement to assess the home country DL's validity. For US, IDP is a mute point, if the license has no wording in any other language, but English. You will still need your Indian state issued license to drive in the US.

The US Federal government is a signatory to a UN treaty that offers international visitors the priviledge to drive in the US, while you are on a short visit of US. However, there should be no harm in using it initially, even if you are here in US on immigration. All US states are bound by the agreement of the Federal Government. No state can deny a foreign personnel from those signatory countries from using their actual license to drive an automobile (in conjunction with IDP, if original license is not in English. When the DMV's of some US states indicate they don't honor IDL, they are correct, as there is no legal IDL that they have to honor. But, they have to honor driving license issued by signatory members of those foreign countries, in conjunction with IDP - if a translation was needed.

I would advise EVERYONE to bring your Indian state issued license, if you will need to start driving before you can get your regular US State issued license.

To obtain a US State issused license, one needs some proof for where the person lives, which can be proven if you will lease an apartment. However, if you live with friend or family, you won't have a way to prove that until you open a bank account. In short, a driving license and IDP is well worth the cost and effort. My nephew got IDP from Baroda, Gujarat for about Rs. 800 and he was using his Gujarat state license to drive in Michigan. In fact, because he was living with me, and didn't have a bank account, he couldn't get Michigan license until the University had sent him his first semseter's grade report 4 months later. Also, he got a ticket on his international driving license. He paid the money, but when he actually gets his Michigan license, there is no record of his ticket, thus it will save him some money in insurance cost.

Below my signature is some information I dug up from an old e-mail to my nephew from July 2007 that gives more background information, if you are the type that wants to read more before you are convinced.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

Here is some "Googled" information on International Driving Permit (not License) from trustworthy sources - mostly federal and state government dealing with driving license:

State of Michigan:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/reciproc...art_20508_7.pdf

The licenses of residents of foreign countries that are considered valid are listed below. An international driving permit is not required . . .

1949 Convention on Road Traffic Residents of countries that are signatories to the 1949 Convention may drive in this country if they have a valid non-commercial driver's license issued by their country of residence. These countries include: along with bunch of other countries, India.

US Federal Government:
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml

An international driver's license must be obtained from your home country. This permit only verifies that you hold a valid license in your home country. It is your foreign driver's license that allows you to drive in the United States. Contact the authorities in your home country to get an international driving permit, as the United States does NOT issue international driver's licenses to foreign visitors.

If you are a foreign student coming to the U.S. to study, contact the university or college you will attend, as most institutions provide students with driving information and most have websites.

US Govt's Federal Trade Commission (it receives and investigates complaints on fradulent businesses that offer International Driving Licenses (there is no such thing) for a substantial cost):
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/driveralrt.shtm

What's an IDP?
The United States is a party to a United Nations treaty that gives residents of one country the right to drive in other countries using the driver's license issued by the government where they live. This treaty created the international driving permit to make this arrangement easier. An IDP translates your state-issued driver's license into 10 languages so you can show it to officials in foreign countries to help them interpret your driver's license.

New York Dept of Motor Vehicles:

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm

In most cases, you can drive in NYS if you have a valid driver license from another country. See "Drivers From Other Nations ".

International Driving Permit: An International Driving Permit is not a driver license. The permit only verifies that you hold a valid driver license in your home country. Your foreign driver license, not the International Driving Permit, allows you to drive in NYS. Contact the authorities in your home country to get an International Driving Permit. If you are not a resident of the US, you cannot apply for an International Driving Permit in the US.

You are not required to have an International Driving Permit to drive in NYS, but the permit has value. The permit verifies, in several languages, that you have a valid foreign driver license. A police officer who cannot read the language on your foreign driver license can read the permit.

California Dept of Motor Vehicles:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm

The State of California does not recognize an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a valid driver license. California does recognize a valid driver license that is issued by a foreign jurisdiction (country, state, territory) of which the license holder is a resident.

Thanks Sanjiv for the info. I will go ahead and get my Indian license to US.

Yesterday I went to RTA office, Secunderabad, AP to get by IDL. Filled in the form, affixed photo and then filled in the medical form by the resident doctor there. He charged Rs.30/- for it. Made a copy of my passport (page 1 and last) and my current driving license (LMV). When I went for submission, the lady there told that since there is address difference (I had moved to my flat recently), first I should apply for change of address, then get my current license updated with new address and then apply for IDL. Also for IDL visa details ares important. I told here I don't have visa yet and I am going for interview on 6th, she said she cannot do anything without Visa stamp on the passport. However she said not to worry since the whole process takes only half-an-hour, I can come after I get my visa and get IDL done.

So I got my address updated, paid Rs.330/- and got new LMV driving license card. When I get my visa stamped, then I will go for IDL.

Hi rsa,

Yes, you need a visa on your passport before they can issue an IDL.

Cheers

Forgot to update this thread.

After I got my Visa stamped, I took a photocopy of my visa stamped passport page. Then submitted it the earlier prepared application & documents.

The lady there made some entries and note on the back side of the application form. Then I had to get it signed by the administrative officer who was sitting at the end of the row. Then I took it to the Driving inspector sitting outside the complex - he approved the request for IDL after asking couple of general questions. After that I took it back to the lady. She then made further entries and gave the receipt. I then had photo taken and presto... I had my IDL valid for one year!!

Right now I am making use of my IDL for driving around. So far I hadn't had an encounter with the cops here for final word on its acceptance, but it is listed out in the Utah Driving License rules that I can use my IDL for 6 months or so. To be on the safe side I am carrying my Indian driving license too!

Once I get my SSN, I am going to apply for Utah driving license to get a better deal on the insurance and other areas.

Thanks for the update RSA!

I am having problems over authenticity of the International Driving License and Indian Driving License. What we in Hyderabad get is a plastic card with the details on them. But here in NorthWest DMV office, Utah when I applied for Utah Driving License, they refused to accept my International Driving License and Indian Driving License and hence my request for written test. The supervisor there said that both the cards don't have any security aspect built in it and he has no means of verifying the authenticity of the DL cards. I tried to explain to him that they are original and we can verify based on the driving license number on the cards. But he said he doesn't want to argue and the case is closed. And that I have to apply for Learning License and go through the normal process. I then said to him that I am not interested in applying for DL and requested him to convert the application to application for ID card. Then I got my Utah State ID card (temporarily on paper till I get the plastic card)

When I asked him what I can do to solve the problem, he said to get a letter from the DL issuing agency in sealed cover stating the authenticity of the DL and identity verification. Later when I enquired with the Indians around, they said that I had met a crappy guy and asked me to try either WestValley unit or any other DMV unit. All of them got their DL based on their Indian License/IDL (of course after written test and skill test)

hmmm but i have a question maybe someone can answer in the usa all driver are required to have insurance.........will insurance companys accept international drivers license.......and insure the driver?

what my spouse did was she added me to her AAA insurance. And I am still on K1 with IDL (International Driving License). But the premium is on high side ($140 more than existing premium) because of my IDL. The AAA guy told me that once I get my Utah State DL, it would actually go down (by $160).

Hope this helps you.

yes it does thanks we didnt know if perviz should get the international one or wait until he was able to apply here for license

I would suggest that let perviz go ahead and apply for IDL. Having an IDL is better than having nothing. Even now I drive on IDL and I can continue to do so for next 4 months.

Lastest update on my driving license project:

Last week went to West Valley DMV. There applied for driving license. When the official looked at my IDL and Indian driving license, he had the same doubt as the earlier one who rejected it one month back. This guy and his supervisor were more friendly. After much deliberation, they declared it as a genuine but a badly made card and accepted my application for Utah Driving License. Then I had eye test where with spects on, I was peek into a gadget and read the letters. I was declared passed and eligible for written test. It was a open book test with 25 multiple choice questions. They provided the driving guide. I finished it with 100%. Then I requested for immediate road skills test. They said there was a slot available and to come back after half-an-hour. I went for skills test and made 3 mistakes/errors and got -8 points. I was declared passed. They immediately gave the temporary driving license (temporary since it was made of paper) and informed that the plastic card will arrive in two weeks.

So finally I was able to successfully get an Utah Driving License based on my Indian Driving License. Ofcourse, I am still waiting for my original driving license to be delivered, but that didnot stop me from using the temporary one. I am driving now with confidence and even started using the freeways.

Congrats on your success!

dont try driving anytime soon in LA or NJ TPK, NYC or Chicago

Thanks ELW. I finally got my driving license!! It was a plastic card same in type as the State ID card.

Daniel added me to his insurance using my Indian Driver's License and his insurance went down to half of what it was....