Which european countries can I drive in?

abhijitaparadh · 12th November 2007, 07:01

I have valid Indian license as well as valid New York state license. I want to plan a driving holiday through Europe, which all countries in Europe can I rent a car and drive on my own?

I am familiar with LHD as well as RHD cars as I have driven extensively in US as well a India.

Thanks in advance.

hrag · 12th November 2007, 12:35

If you plan to rent a car, why don't you check out the rental agency websites for each country? They would have information on whether your Indian / NY State license is valid or whether you would need an IDL.

no_limit · 12th November 2007, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhijitaparadh

I have valid Indian license as well as valid New York state license. I want to plan a driving holiday through Europe, which all countries in Europe can I rent a car and drive on my own?

I am familiar with LHD as well as RHD cars as I have driven extensively in US as well a India.

Thanks in advance.

You can drive in U.K on your existing Indian License.
Indeed many European countries require of you, the foreign driver, no license apart from your domestic drivers license. However, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, and Vatican City do, by law at least, require non-Europeans to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with their domestic license.

shivapsreddy · 12th November 2007, 16:17

You can drive in almost all the European countries with your New York license. Indian driving license most people will not accept as the class of the driving license is not in international format. Please take IDP. With this you can drive. Most of the rental car agencies will accept IDP.

eclectix 1st · 12th November 2007, 20:34

Using your Indian License, you can drive in all the European Countries.

vivekiny2k · 12th November 2007, 23:54

Can an indian get an IDP when in US, on US license?

eclectix 1st · 13th November 2007, 00:00

You will have to get the IDP from your passport issuing country.

So if you are holding Indian Passport, the MVD in US wont issue the IDP for you.

You can try inquiring in the Indian Embassy/ consulate about the same. (I am pretty sure that they don't !!!)

rohan_fonseca · 13th November 2007, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by no_limit

You can drive in U.K on your existing Indian License.
Indeed many European countries require of you, the foreign driver, no license apart from your domestic drivers license. However, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, and Vatican City do, by law at least, require non-Europeans to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with their domestic license.

Thats valid for the first 3 months of your stay there only.

Thad E Ginathom · 13th November 2007, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclectix 1st

You will have to get the IDP from your passport issuing country.

So if you are holding Indian Passport, the MVD in US wont issue the IDP for you.

You can try inquiring in the Indian Embassy/ consulate about the same. (I am pretty sure that they don't !!!)

No... it goes with your driving licence, not your passport, and is linked to your country of residency rather than to your nationality.

My example.... I am a British citizen resident in India. I have a British driving licence, although British authority (DVLA) told me when I enquired that I should not have this while not resident in UK as it must carry current UK address.

Due to this advice (I did keep the licence, but better not try to use it), before recent visit to UK I took Indian IDP to go with my Indian driving licence.

I'd advise anyone who wants to hire a car in UK to take IDP, along with good proof of your address and passport for identity. I don't know if this is strictly necessary, but I suspect it is.

UK car hire firms are very fussy.

You cannot driver permanently in UK without taking the UK test and getting the licence

thefreak · 13th November 2007, 10:37

Sorry for the ignorance but can someone please tell me what the process is to get a international driving permit? And is there a time frame for which this stays in force? And what are the approximate costs involved?

Thad E Ginathom · 13th November 2007, 11:12

I got mine from AA (AA of Southern India). It took a few minutes to join and be given the permit at their office in Chennai.

I'm sure you can get it without joining any organisation, though...

BikerSG · 13th November 2007, 11:42

AA is the authority for issuing International Driving Permits in India. Dunno if there are more agencies authorised to do so as well.

IDP's are usually valid for 12 months.

need valid passport, indian licence (and visa also i think) and a couple of passport size photographs to get the IDP. fill up a form and they issue it to u on the spot. takes a few minutes only.

no_limit · 13th November 2007, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

You cannot driver permanently in UK without taking the UK test and getting the licence

Its only for first 3 months of your stay that you are allowed to drive on an Indian licence.However you can surrender your Indian licence to DVLA in exchange of a U.K driving licence.

Thad E Ginathom · 13th November 2007, 13:19

Take a look at the DVLA's interactive Q&A site on this here. It works well!

You cannot exchange an Indian licence for a British one.

If resident, you can use your Indian licence for 12 months, and then must go through the same process as any British non-driver of provisional licence, theory and practical test leading to issue of full licence.

no_limit · 13th November 2007, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

You cannot exchange an Indian licence for a British one.

Many thanks for bringing this to my attention. Cheers mate

12th November 2007, 07:01	#1
abhijitaparadh BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 222 Thanked: 3 Times	Which european countries can I drive in? I have valid Indian license as well as valid New York state license. I want to plan a driving holiday through Europe, which all countries in Europe can I rent a car and drive on my own? I am familiar with LHD as well as RHD cars as I have driven extensively in US as well a India. Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks

12th November 2007, 12:35	#2
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 32 Times	If you plan to rent a car, why don't you check out the rental agency websites for each country? They would have information on whether your Indian / NY State license is valid or whether you would need an IDL.
	() Thanks

12th November 2007, 16:17	#4
shivapsreddy BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nuremberg,Germany Posts: 61 Thanked: 0 Times	You can drive in almost all the European countries with your New York license. Indian driving license most people will not accept as the class of the driving license is not in international format. Please take IDP. With this you can drive. Most of the rental car agencies will accept IDP.
	() Thanks

12th November 2007, 20:34	#5
eclectix 1st BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 380 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Using your Indian License, you can drive in all the European Countries.
	() Thanks

12th November 2007, 23:54	#6
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 212 Times View My Garage	Can an indian get an IDP when in US, on US license?
	() Thanks

13th November 2007, 00:00	#7
eclectix 1st BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 380 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	You will have to get the IDP from your passport issuing country. So if you are holding Indian Passport, the MVD in US wont issue the IDP for you. You can try inquiring in the Indian Embassy/ consulate about the same. (I am pretty sure that they don't !!!)
	() Thanks

13th November 2007, 10:37	#10
thefreak BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 361 Thanked: 7 Times	Sorry for the ignorance but can someone please tell me what the process is to get a international driving permit? And is there a time frame for which this stays in force? And what are the approximate costs involved?
	() Thanks

13th November 2007, 11:12	#11
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,431 Thanked: 29,946 Times	I got mine from AA (AA of Southern India). It took a few minutes to join and be given the permit at their office in Chennai. I'm sure you can get it without joining any organisation, though...
	() Thanks

13th November 2007, 11:42	#12
BikerSG BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chennai, INDIA Posts: 378 Thanked: 15 Times	AA is the authority for issuing International Driving Permits in India. Dunno if there are more agencies authorised to do so as well. IDP's are usually valid for 12 months. need valid passport, indian licence (and visa also i think) and a couple of passport size photographs to get the IDP. fill up a form and they issue it to u on the spot. takes a few minutes only.
	() Thanks

13th November 2007, 13:19	#14
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,431 Thanked: 29,946 Times	Take a look at the DVLA's interactive Q&A site on this here. It works well! You cannot exchange an Indian licence for a British one. If resident, you can use your Indian licence for 12 months, and then must go through the same process as any British non-driver of provisional licence, theory and practical test leading to issue of full licence.
	() Thanks