International License for Togo/Benin???
 

Hi everyone.
So Anne Murray and I are cruising along and nearing Accra now. My little scooter (Anne) is doing well, but I'm starting to wonder about an international license. I've been told by a couple people that it's a requirement in Togo/Benin and I only have a Canadian license (which isn't even a motorcycle license). Can I get something done in Accra? Is it really necessary?
Cheers!

I wondering - how many people traveling without doing their homework before.

:oops2:


Far i know - only your home country have to issue them. Ask your embassy about.

I would suggest to obtain one - at least to avoid bribe`s... Most travelers show their international licence on checkpoints- so the police know them. So they may ask themselves - if you had to have them.

For swiss peoples the international licence is "recommended" for Benin and Togo...

No idea what canadian people had to have :rolleyes2:

I've been travelling for 3+ years straight. I'm a professional travel journalist. I don't have the luxury of being home to get one. I'm told I can have one mailed, but don't want to wait/pay for it to come. I'll just go through as is.

P.S. The reply is really appreciated, but you really could leave the above quoted comment off the site. Sass-free responses are really appreciated.

A UK one £5 from a motoring organisation there only lasts for a year anyhow :)

Your embassy might be able to tell you the exact requirements?

I spent 4 weeks in Togo and Benin in a 4x4 and never got asked once for my license - Togo wasn't the friendliest as it was a few days away from its first 'democratic election', but the cops in Benin were pretty good, inviting me to get a residents permit and live there.

On a scooter, I doubt it's much of an issue - I doubt most of the locals have a license to drive the bikes there? Else buy a local license ;-p

If asked, show your Canadian license with confidence, insist it is valid with a smile etc. If pushed just say its at the Canadian embassy being extended, you will have it next time, how is their family, is this the road to blah blah and smile a lot and be really nice.

Or - Photoshop is your friend in Africa - scan somebody else's, photoshop and print it out.... And print out something from Togo/Benin tourism office web sites and modify the text a little so it says your Canadian license is valid etc.

I had new ones sent out each year with my new Carnet.... best to get a few copies (there are two different formats by the way, some countries accept differing formats, but only an issue if you have a crash etc)

I only crossed at small borders which probably helps...

PS: Your probably supposed to have one in all of the other African countries you have been to so far including Ghana ;-)

Cheers, I had no issues getting into Togo and doubt there will be a problem in Benin now. They seem pretty relaxed on it all.

West Africa/French countries are generally much more relaxed about these things compared to say Kenya...

Just have a good story and some photocopies ready... As bad as the police can be, they will actually listen and take into account any story you tell them I found....