International Driving Permit?
 

So I have been reading nearly every post here about buying and riding a bike in Chile. Nobody has said anything about first obtaining an IDP. On the US embassy website it clearly says one who wants to drive in Chile must be in possession of this permit. So why/how does everyone I've read about on here seemingly skip that part of the process? I sent in my application from Chile and it will take a few more weeks to come back. I really don't want to wait for it to go and buy a bike. What do you guys think?

You can get both IDP (there are two that I'm aware of as not all countries signed up for one IDP) from a Triple AAA in the US for around $15 a piece, just bring them two photos and tell them what you are driving. Only time I've needed one is entering Brazil from VZ where they asked to see it. Can make copies and give them to crooked cops is you have to. They are valid for one year but you can easily change them.

Maybe since you are in country it just takes a whole lot longer, I go without unless some authority is asking for it before you ride away on your new bike.


Goodluck
John

I don't think people skip it, they just don't mention it because it is so trivially easy to get one.

Sure I guess you can buy a bike without a license, but I wouldn't ride it much until you get it.

It's not a license; it's a translation of a license. Let's assume the OP already has a license and is asking whether he also needs an IDP.

He's not in the USA: he's in Chile. Getting an IDP issued and sent from the US isn't quite so trivial, and it takes time. Hence the posting.

OP, personally I'd go ahead and try buying a bike without waiting. Then I'd ride it wherever I wanted to go. But all I can report from personal experience is that in a month or so riding the length of Chile I never had a cop ask me for anything, and no one so much as hinted at a need for an IDP. If you want to hear from someone who bought a local bike in Chile, keep waiting....or search out some of those threads and private message their authors.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I bought a moto in Chile in February and rode it around Chile, Bolivia and Peru. I didn't have an I.D.P. and never needed one.

I was asked for my licence a fair few times in each country, and just showed them my normal (U.K.) photo-card licence.

One Bolivian policeman tried to extort 10 Boli's out of me for my licence (not for any good reason), but I managed to snatch it out of his dirty hands, raise the road barrier myself and leave him. He was in a booth so didn't even get up.

If you were still at home I would say get an IDP to take as they're cheap and you could just leave it in the grubby mitts of a corrupt official if you find one, but as you're already out there it's up to you.

Certainly don't wait for your IDP before buying a moto - you don't need one just to buy it, and it can take a while for your papers to come through.

I would make a decent forgery if you can find another traveller with one, or just go without if you can't. But obviously it depends on your sensitivity regarding laws and regulations.

Good luck, and have a blast.
Eddie

sure it takes time but its still pretty easy. Moreover, I'm referring to the reason why most people don't refer to getting one, not to his particular situation. hence the posting.

depending on the country, its less/more risky to ride without one, but i would say that riding without one increases your exposure to being asked for a bribe, so I try to avoid it.

IDP International Driving Permit
 

If you do have an accident in a country that requires and IDP (International driving Permit) whatever insurance you have purchased is not valid, because the insurance is sold to cover legally authorized "drivers" and if an IDP is required and you don't have one, you have no insurance....

Why don't people get this?

xfiltrate

you're assuming people buy insurance...:oops2:

without both best case you're bribe-bait, worst case is well, pretty bad...

Are there any countries that require an IDP? When I get one from the AAA in the US, it includes a list of countries that recognize the IDP, but nowhere does it say these countries require it. I have tried to use the IDP when I have been asked for my DL in various Latin American countries, and so far no one has even known what it was and have asked to see my "real" license.

Having said that, I will continue to get an IDP, just because it is cheap, and I figure the more documents I have the better.

I've been required to show an IDP to ride in Guyana and Ghana. I can't think of anyplace else, but my memory's not what I imagine it to once have been.

There's a law on the books in Florida requiring foreign drivers/riders to have an IDP. It's not usually enforced. Some rental companies worldwide are reported to require an IDP, regardless of local laws.

Since the IDP is just a translation, not a license, it really has no legal standing. I always carry one anyway, since why not? Besides, the two places I've been required to have one (see above) are both English-speaking. It doesn't have to make sense.

Mark

I have just completed my RTW trip and the only place I think I was supposed to have it was Thailand, I showed them the one I had which was 4 years out of date, no issues. Only because I forgot to renew it before I left

If you have the time to do it, it is cheap, so why not?

Cheers
TS

IDP
 

Good point xfiltrate. I definitely don't want to get screwed if some accident happens but I will probably at least buy the bike before the IDP arrives and start getting all the paperwork completed with that. My IDP should be on it's way so it's not a matter of whether to get one or not.

In my situation I am under more pressure to abide perfectly to all the laws regarding this matter. I am a student in Vina del Mar and if my program director finds out I am riding a moto illegally (and she will) she would tell the higher ups and my home university and I could be kicked out of school. It's probably just an empty threat but I don't want to risk wasting all my time and money down here.

I will buy the bike soon in Santiago, ride it back, and not go on any lengthy excursion until all the paperwork/IDP arrives.

IDP or IDL ?
 

While on this topic here are a few facts:

1. The IDP International Driving Permit is not valid in Argentina, Argentina is not on the list of countries.

2. The IDL International Driving License does list Argentina along with other Central and South American countries and, it also lists the USA and Haiti. We used to call this one the PanAmerican Driving License.

3. The IDP and IDL are available through the American Automobile Association in the State for which you have a legal/valid driver's license.

4. Neither will be issued for less than or more than one year and will not be issued if your US license expires during the one year period for which the IDP or IDL is issued. You can request a date in the future as the start date of the one year period.

5. The IDP and the IDL are a little more than a "translation" the AAA or issuing agency does check to see the US driver's license is valid, and while you can fax or scan your US driver's license to the AAA with a fee and a couple of photos, if the expiration date on the US license does not conform as stated above , the IDP or IDL will not be issued.

6. While few Central and South American police request more than a valid US or other foreign license, before your insurance companies sends a lawyer to bail you out after an accident or even considers paying liabilities, you will have to prove to the insurance company, and later on to a judge, that you are a legal driver in the country where the accident occurred.

In summery, I have discussed this IDP/IDL issue with various insurance companies and have wondered why the insurance company did not ask for my U S driver's license and IDP or IDL , the reply was - we assume you are a legal driver in the countries we insure in order to sell you an insurance policy,... if it turns out you are not we don't half to pay your liabilities and we don't have to hire a lawyer to get you out of jail. I now have a local license.

I advise everyone to check with your in country embassy's web site - regarding the licensing requirements for each country.

And, I urge all of you to buy insurance. Many police don't ask to see prof of insurance, but most foreign countries do require foreign tourists to buy insurance. Not having insurance is not being responsible to yourself and to those you might injure or to those whose property you damage, especially when you are a guest in a foreign country.

xfiltrate eat, drink and buy insurance

sounds like the program director needs to lighten up...

as to where an IDP is required--i definitely advise getting one for Russia.

Visa/RUT complications
 

Seriously, she's been on my ass about getting a motorcycle since I (regretfully) informed her. She tried to make me wait the couple months it takes to complete the visa process before I could obtain a RUT but I went in and just got one myself. Now she says I screwed up the visa process since I started the RUT process at the same time. Now my visa registration appointment has been cancelled and she told me to go in by myself on Friday to explain the situation and ask for a new appointment.

I'm not sure if I actually did something wrong or if she's just trying to make things difficult for me. I didn't think I needed a visa before getting a RUT or that there is a specific order to do everything.