Q: about International Driving Permit

[jkn]

Hi All
Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I thought I'd
ask it here...

'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently. They
claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst out there.

As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that they
are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

Thanks, J^n

[The Natural Philosopher]

Post by jkn
Hi All
    Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I thought
I'd ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently. They
claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst out there.
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that they
are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

Not so sure on that. I drove everywhere - USA, S Africa, on UK
'international driving license'.

Judging by some of the driving standards in UK roads many people have
never passed a UK driving test.

Post by jkn
Thanks, J^n

[Davey]

On Sat, 12 Apr 2025 12:08:19 +0100

Post by The Natural Philosopher

Post by jkn
Hi All
    Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I
thought I'd ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently.
They claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst
out there.
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that
they are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

Not so sure on that. I drove everywhere - USA, S Africa, on UK
'international driving license'.
Judging by some of the driving standards in UK roads many people have
never passed a UK driving test.

Post by jkn
Thanks, J^n

USA, Canada, S. Africa, Argentina and lots of European countries. I
didn't attempt driving in Brazil or China, and Mexico City was scary but
I survived.
All on my UK and US licences, whichever seemed more appropriate.

[Theo]

Post by jkn
Hi All
Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I thought I'd
ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently. They
claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst out there.
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that they
are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

"1. Are you:
a resident of Great Britain?
Change
2. What kind of driving licence do you have?
Full car and motorcycle
Change
3. Where did you pass your test?
Any other country
Change

You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid driving licence for 12
months from when you became resident

After 12 months you’ll need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the
theory and practical driving tests to drive in Great Britain."


Presumably they hold a Saudi licence which backs the IDP, and on that basis
can drive in the UK for 12 months.

Theo

[Andy Burns]

Am I right in thinking that they are not qualified to drive in the UK
with just this permit?

I don't think an IDP *alone* qualifies you to drive in any country, it's
a box-ticking add-on to a driving licence, they cost a fiver down the
shops ...

[Clive Page]

Post by Andy Burns

Am I right in thinking that they are not qualified to drive in the UK
with just this permit?

I don't think an IDP *alone* qualifies you to drive in any country, it's
a box-ticking add-on to a driving licence, they cost a fiver down the
shops ...

Just to note: there are three different varieties of IDP and a list
somewhere online of which countries require which. Here's an
unofficial list from the AA:
https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/driving-abroad/idp-country-list.

A few years ago I had to get the least popular of the three to drive in
Brazil. The only other countries in which it is valid are Iraq and
Somalia. I haven't had the chance to put this to the test and
unfortunately it's now expired.

[David Wade]

Post by jkn
Hi All
    Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I thought
I'd ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently. They
claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst out there.

This is just a translation of a normal national driving licence.

Post by jkn
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that they
are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

With "just this permit" they can't drive in the UK, you can't really
"just" have an IDP, you must have a licence in some country for it to be
valid. If they have a licence then they can drive for 12 months if now a
UK resident. No IDP needed.

Post by jkn
Thanks, J^n

Dave

[jkn]

Post by David Wade

Post by jkn
Hi All
     Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I thought
I'd ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently.
They claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst
out there.

This is just a translation of a normal national driving licence.

Post by jkn
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that
they are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

With "just this permit" they can't drive in the UK, you can't really
"just" have an IDP, you must have a licence in some country for it to be
valid. If they have a licence then they can drive for 12 months if now a
UK resident. No IDP needed.

Yes, that is my understanding. I appreciate that in theory you need to
already have to have a licence in some country (UK) to get an IDP in
another (Saudi); but I suspect that part is easy to get round ... as
Andy Burns says, for a fiver down the shops.

But they are acting as though this (alone) gives them the equivalent of
a UK driving licence, which seems not to be the case...

J^n

[Andy Burns]

Post by jkn
But they are acting as though this (alone) gives them the equivalent of
a UK driving licence

If they want to find out, drive past a cop car at night without any
lights on ...

[Chris Green]

Post by jkn
Hi All
Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I thought I'd
ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently. They
claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst out there.
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that they
are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

There's a time limit I think, six months maybe, then you have to get a
UK licence.

[S Viemeister]

Post by Chris Green

Post by jkn
Hi All
Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I thought I'd
ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently. They
claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst out there.
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that they
are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

There's a time limit I think, six months maybe, then you have to get a
UK licence.

Twelve months.

[jkn]

Post by S Viemeister

Post by Chris Green

Post by jkn
Hi All
        Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar, but I
thought I'd
ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently. They
claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst out there.
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that they
are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

There's a time limit I think, six months maybe, then you have to get a
UK licence.

Twelve months.

Can you give me a link to this info please? Thanks

J^n

[Bob Eager]

Post by jkn

Post by S Viemeister

Post by Chris Green

Post by jkn
Hi All
        Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar,
        but I
thought I'd ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently.
They claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst
out there.
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that
they are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

There's a time limit I think, six months maybe, then you have to get a
UK licence.

Twelve months.

Can you give me a link to this info please? Thanks

Actually 12 to 36 months depending on type (i.e. country). Bottom of page:

https://www.paypoint.com/instore-services/international-driving-permits

[Theo]

Post by Bob Eager

Post by jkn

Post by S Viemeister

Post by Chris Green

Post by jkn
Hi All
        Probably a question for uk.rec.motoring or similar,
        but I
thought I'd ask it here...
'A Friend' has returned from a work stint in Saudi Arabia recently.
They claim to have gained an 'International Driver's Permit' whilst
out there.
As far as I know they do not have a UK driving license - they have
certainly not passed a UK driving test. Am I right in thinking that
they are not qualified to drive in the UK with just this permit?

There's a time limit I think, six months maybe, then you have to get a
UK licence.

Twelve months.

Can you give me a link to this info please? Thanks

https://www.paypoint.com/instore-services/international-driving-permits

That's the validity of the IDP, ie you can go on holiday every year for 3
years without needing a new one.

It does not mean the destination country (UK here) will let you live there
for that long without getting a local licence. The link in my previous post:
https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

has a checker which will tell you how long you can drive on a non-GB
licence. If it's EU it's until 70, but non-EU is 12 months.

Theo