BruceP, thanks for your questions.

Early on I made it quite clear that neither the IDP or the IDL were stand alone documents. Neither cost me a cent because I am a Premier member, and have been for many years, of the AAA and receive both IDP and IDL for no charge - including the photos being taken at the AAA office.

As to your question why on the AAA web site IDP is listed , but not IDL - my best guess would be just as demonstrated by various posts here, there might be a misleading conclusion as to the meaning of the word "License" after the words "International Driving." Some might consider it is a "License" complete without the need to be accompanied by a Driving license issued by a State of the United States or a country. Therefore, there has probably been a sea change regarding the use of the word "License". I certainly never made that mistake, for it was explained to me years ago that a valid State of country license had to accompy the IDP or IDL. Various embassies still request IDL along with another valid driving license already explained here and in my previous posts this thread.

To respond to your WWII question, the Axis powers were making in roads into South America, especially the Germans, and the Allies might have been trying to strengthen relationships with South American neighbors. Maybe, all our spies in South America needed driving licenses for insurance purposes? Who Knows?

xfiltrate