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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   Canada (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/)
-   -   Driving in Florida - read this (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/driving-florida-read-787298/)

wolstie Feb 13th 2013 5:18 am
Driving in Florida - read this
 
This includes Canadian license holders.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/idp.html

Foreign Citizens Visiting Florida

If you will be visiting Florida and driving on a foreign driver license, as of January 1, 2013 you must have in your possession an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by your country of residence and a valid license from that country. This applies to any vehicle, including rental vehicles. The IDP must be in the customer's name and from their country of residence. Again, this permit is only to be shown in conjunction with a valid driver license issued from your country, not as a substitute. You will need to contact the authorities in your country who issued your driver's license, or the motoring association there, to find out how to obtain an IDP.

iaink Feb 13th 2013 5:20 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Originally Posted by wolstie (Post 10542671)
This includes Canadian license holders.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/idp.html

Foreign Citizens Visiting Florida

If you will be visiting Florida and driving on a foreign driver license, as of January 1, 2013 you must have in your possession an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by your country of residence and a valid license from that country. This applies to any vehicle, including rental vehicles. The IDP must be in the customer's name and from their country of residence. Again, this permit is only to be shown in conjunction with a valid driver license issued from your country, not as a substitute. You will need to contact the authorities in your country who issued your driver's license, or the motoring association there, to find out how to obtain an IDP.
Thats going to encourage a lot of snowbirds to go to Nevada or Arizona instead isnt it?

Could be terminal for Floridas economy!

wolstie Feb 13th 2013 5:29 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10542679)
Thats going to encourage a lot of snowbirds to go to Nevada or Arizona instead isnt it?

Could be terminal for Floridas economy!
Wouldn't have thought so - most snowbirds have the time and the cash to arrange one of these...

Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who may be visiting.

Could be implications with regards to car hire too.

dbd33 Feb 13th 2013 5:32 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
The IDP is just an authorised translation of the license. I doubt it's needed if the license itself is in English.

christmasoompa Feb 13th 2013 6:36 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
My in-laws have just got back, they were told an IDL was only needed if their licence wasn't in English.

Wasn't an issue for them, but perhaps the car hire companies haven't caught up with this new rule yet?

wolstie Feb 13th 2013 6:40 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Came across this on another web-site:

I hope this answers all your questions (some of the old stuff, plus new stuff):

Customers that wish to drive in Florida without obtaining a Florida driver license will be required to have an International Driving Permit to accompany their out-of-country license. This applies to any vehicle, including rental vehicles. The International Driving Permit must be in the customer’s name and from their country of residence.

This is the information from the Florida Statutes:

322.04(c)(1)Persons exempt from obtaining driver license-

(c) A nonresident who is at least 16 years of age operating a motor vehicle of the type for which a Class E driver license is required in this state if the nonresident has in his or her immediate possession:

(2) An International Driving Permit issued in his or her name in his or her country of residence and a valid license issued in that country.

When did the law change, and why? January 1, 2013. The purpose of the permit is for the English translation. Obviously, a license issued in the UK is already written in English, so the permit is admittedly a little redundant but that is technically the law at this point.

What will happen to British drivers who drive without an IDP?
Without an IDP, a driver is therefore driving without a valid license and if stopped, law enforcement has the option of 1/ arresting the driver and taking him/her to jail 2/ giving the driver a citation with a mandatory court appearance.

Hope this helps,


Deputy Communications Director
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

dbd33 Feb 13th 2013 7:07 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Originally Posted by christmasoompa (Post 10542870)
My in-laws have just got back, they were told an IDL was only needed if their licence wasn't in English.

Wasn't an issue for them, but perhaps the car hire companies haven't caught up with this new rule yet?
I asked two people here who have, unrelatedly, driven in FL in the past week. "Eh?" they said, nonplussed.

I note that the comments on the linked site are from the AAA, not the State directly, and shan't rush to get a permit.

Bob Feb 13th 2013 8:02 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Isn't the permit something like a fiver from AAA or whatever you folks have out there?

The state is broke and it's easy money pulling over speeders with out of state plates and renters will be even easier to pull over and ticket :/

MarkG Feb 13th 2013 8:19 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Originally Posted by Bob (Post 10543079)
Isn't the permit something like a fiver from AAA or whatever you folks have out there?
It's more than that, but still cheap compared to the cost of renting a car for a couple of weeks.

Merry Feb 13th 2013 9:26 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
OH was stopped by the police in Florida in January. He didn't have his license on him but the officer accepted mine - gave him a warning for not having it with him but never mentioned an IDP. I doubt most of the actual police officers even know of this.

Bob Feb 13th 2013 9:45 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Originally Posted by Merry (Post 10543285)
OH was stopped by the police in Florida in January. He didn't have his license on him but the officer accepted mine - gave him a warning for not having it with him but never mentioned an IDP. I doubt most of the actual police officers even know of this.
State cop or local yokel? And now a month in, might be a few more that know about it.

So how much is the IDP if it's more than a fiver? Can't be much more than the cost of a happy meal and a photo?

iaink Feb 13th 2013 9:50 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
$25.

Its the principal thou aint it. Canadians make up about 50% of Floridas seasonal population!

RICH Feb 13th 2013 10:30 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Originally Posted by Bob (Post 10543328)
State cop or local yokel? And now a month in, might be a few more that know about it.

So how much is the IDP if it's more than a fiver? Can't be much more than the cost of a happy meal and a photo?
This thread was the first I heard of it, but it doesn't affect me with a FL licence. After a quick search, it is gbp5.50 for a year, in uk at select post offices plus photo.

The opinion of my local Fl native friends is it is aimed at Brits landing in Orlando and causing accidents driving on the wrong side etc.

Bob Feb 13th 2013 11:28 am
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10543339)
$25.

Its the principal thou aint it. Canadians make up about 50% of Floridas seasonal population!
And the other 50% would be the dead people coming down from Maine :D

wolstie Feb 13th 2013 12:13 pm
Re: Driving in Florida - read this
 
Originally Posted by RICH (Post 10543373)
This thread was the first I heard of it, but it doesn't affect me with a FL licence. After a quick search, it is gbp5.50 for a year, in uk at select post offices plus photo.

The opinion of my local Fl native friends is it is aimed at Brits landing in Orlando and causing accidents driving on the wrong side etc.
So, how would having this specific piece of paper stop them having accidents? :lol:


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