If you are planning a trip to Europe, you may be thinking about renting a car while you are there. After all, the road network of the old continent is extensive and well-developed. To drive in over 150 foreign countries (including 23 European countries), you will need an international driving permit (IDP) alongside your valid Canadian driver’s licence. You do not need an IDP to drive in the United States or Mexico.
In countries that require an IDP, failing to present one if pulled over could get you in trouble. The process of obtaining one is fairly simple, and if you apply in person, you can get it within an hour.
Many countries require a licensed driver from a foreign country to hold an international driving permit, a legal document confirming that the driver’s host country has authorized the driver to operate a vehicle.
Some countries, such as Poland and Slovakia, issue driving licences in their native language. This makes it difficult for police officers and rental agencies to get the necessary details from licences written in other languages. That’s why an international driving permit also translates your licence information into other languages.
The Canadian driver’s licence uses both French and English, which is one reason it is valid in several countries. Your IDP translates your licence into English, German, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, Chinese and French.
Finally, for officials in foreign countries who may be unfamiliar with Canadian licensing regulations, your IDP also specifies which types of vehicles your licence allows you to drive.
In Canada, the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) is the only organization legally authorized to issue IDPs to Canadian residents who have a valid driver’s licence and are at least 18 years old. Since having one is optional, your international driving permit is not issued alongside your driver’s licence. Any other organization that claims they can issue IDPs is a scam, and any “IDP” they issue you is fake.
You can obtain an IDP if you have either a full driver’s licence or a probationary licence (also known as an intermediate licence or novice licence), which allows you to drive unsupervised but with certain restrictions.
To apply for an IDP, you will need to present the following documents:
The cost of the international driving permit is $31 CAD and payment can be made in several ways. If you apply in person, you can pay using cash or a credit or debit card. Alternatively, if you’re applying by mail, payment can only be made by card and you’ll have to confirm the details with one of the CAA’s staff members.
IDP application forms are available on the CAA website, caa.ca. Note that these forms are province-specific, so you’ll need to select the one that matches your current residence. A special form is provided for members of the National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces.
Your IDP is valid for one year, starting from its issue date. After it expires, you’ll have to go through the renewal process. If your licence expires within this period, your international driving permit will automatically become invalid.
When you have all the necessary documents, you can submit your application in two different ways: by mail or in person.
When you show up at a CAA store, your application is processed on the spot, and your international driving permit is issued within an hour. If you are not sure how to fill out the application form, you can do it there with the help of their staff. They will also answer any additional questions you might have.
Applying for an IDP while outside Canada is also possible, as you can have someone else submit this application on your behalf. As long as they have the necessary documents, all that’s needed is a letter granting them your permission.
Once you’ve printed the application and gathered all the required documents, you can mail them to your local CAA office. This must include photocopies of the front and back of your licence in place of the actual licence. Although this method depends on the efficiency of the postal service, be prepared to wait several weeks before your IDP is issued.
The application form has a designated payment area where you can provide your card information. Once the CAA receives your mail, they will call you to provide your card’s CVV number.
Because this code prevents the unauthorized use of your card, it cannot be provided in the application and must be communicated by phone to a trusted member of their team.
Students practising with a supervisor should focus on learning how to drive in a safe environment. Around the world, traffic laws and road signs might differ from what you are used to in Canada, so it’s better not to complicate things from the start.
That’s why student drivers holding a learner’s licence (also known as an instructional permit or learner’s permit) are not allowed to have an international driving permit. You must pass a road test and be issued at least a probationary licence before venturing on the German Autobahn.
