jam25mack

Morning

Off to France next week and have booked a hire car and I'm now wondering if there is any need to get an IDP?

Have any of you guys hired a car in France using a UAE licence?

Cheers

mission

nope never driven in froggy land
*waits of MISS ANN to reprimand her*

scrubbedexpat141

Google should give a better answer than me but often the hire car rules can tell you if you need. I got one for South Africa because lots of places said you don't need it unless the police stop you and want to be helmets. Didn't take long in Dnata / Emirates building in Business Bay and lasts a few years I think.

jam25mack

I did have a bit of a google. Including the ATCUAE website (who issue them) and under the list of countries that require them was..... pretty much every country including France, the UK and the UAE strangely enough.

Apparently I can apply online, they cost 170 dibs and they last a year.

scrubbedexpat141

Reckon you'll have to go get it at some point. Took me about 15 mins all in all, quite easy and the local lady who did it was a right laugh, great service.

jam25mack

Just ordered one online. Says it's be here in 3 working days.....

carcajou

I have rented on a UAE licence in France, as well as several other Continental countries. No problem.

As you probably know, IDP is not an actual licence or permit, it is just a translation of your existing licence.

scrubbedexpat141

Sounds much easier. I think that option was maybe available through one of the driving clubs when I did it, maybe it's new.

jam25mack

Yeah it was 170 AED from the ATC UAE who actually issue it. The Emirates Driving folk wanted 200 AED, cheeky beggars!

jam25mack

To be honest I was thinking it was going to be fine and obv rent in the UK on a UAE licence all the time, the thing is this is a family hols and I couldn't be arsed with any issues and I know how arseholeish hire car companies can be if they want to be.

Well it kind of is a permit, hence it being called a permit but I get your point.

carcajou

I absolutely agree with you - better safe than sorry - and I have one myself. But never been asked for it.

Miss Ann Thrope

Same here - have rented in multiple countries and never required it. I got it for Canada as I recall but they didn't care either, at least not in Quebec. Aus/NZ and more than a half dozen European countries: all the same. I wish it had been required in Lebanon, as driving there is an experience I never want to repeat.

The thing is if you look at most detail on car hire reservations, they say that if your licence is not in the Roman alphabet then you need an IDP as it is an official translation. However, UAE licences have all relevant information in English as well as Arabic so even if they say they need it I have never found a place that isn't happy just to take the details from the UAE licence directly.

Note that the IDP is only valid for a year so not an inconsiderable cost if you have to keep renewing

Miss Ann Thrope

Appropriate chastisement will be arranged.

scrubbedexpat141

Ah OK, the ATC one was the place I saw online too, but seeing as I live walking distance(ish) to the Dnata place, I just drove there one day.

Mogs

I have a few years ago - no problem (without an IDL)