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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 26 Mar 2009
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you cant get an IDP without a full licence.
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  #2  
Old 26 Mar 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tommysmithfromleeds View Post
you cant get an IDP without a full licence.
Not so. My Mrs got a full HVG license when she hasn't got one on her UK license and I got a bike one when I don't have that on my UK license. As Joe says, they just tick/stamp all the categories.

In W Africa the cops weren't interested in the IDP though; only my UK license. Can't speak for elsewhere but if you've got a valid IDP which covers the country then you are licensed so any condition in the local insurance (even if its any use) which says you have to be licensed is satisfied. By way of illustration, when I got a California truck license yonks ago I was covered under that license to ride bikes up to a certain size (can't remember what now). The fact that I had never passed a bike test there or here was irrelevant as I was legal.

The key question is a moral one not a legal one. Is the rider safe to ride not only for his own sake but also, and more importantly, for the safety of others?
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Old 26 Mar 2009
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From the AA.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid for 12 months form the date of issue. Recognised internationally it normally allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle when accompanied by a valid UK driving licence...


...An IDP is a permit for use in conjunction with your driving licence, not in place of it. In some countries, you risk being fined or worse for relying solely on an IDP.

So despite what your IDP may or may not say it's only allows you to drive/ride vehicles in the categories for which your full national licence is valid. Aside from certain exemptions based on local laws (for instance a Brit coming to France with a valid car - category B - licence is allowed to ride a motorbike up to 125cc and 15bhp with it, as there is a convention agreed between the two countries).

Of course you may find that in Mongolia the same thing applies, and that national law allows people to ride motorbikes with their car licences, or maybe with no licences at all? Or who knows maybe your mate could take a motorbike test in Mongolia and get a licence there?
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Old 26 Mar 2009
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An International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid for 12 months form the date of issue. Recognised internationally it normally allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle when accompanied by a valid UK driving licence...
exactly mate. even though they tick all the boxes there may be one rozzer who wants to double check this with your actual licence. and still Quintin your mrs actually had a valid full licence with which she acquired an IDP. (I think on reading your post?)

morally your spot on I think. I can drive a car, have done a few times, around scotland a few years ago, can make it do anything I want-dont have a licence though, and after growing up a bit and getting a bike I see the point. Its like I have a CBT, but I aint gonna ride on m'ways or with a pillion or a higher CC. Im not qualified! simple. you wouldnt go deep sea diving if you didnt know how to operate the gear rite? thats just asking for trouble; you really want to run the risk with johnny law in a foreign country. still though welcome to the 125cc tourers club JoeSheffer lol
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Old 26 Mar 2009
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If it's on your IDP I guess you'll be fine. Haven't ever came accross police asking for another license when presenting either my proper or international drivers license. Once in Russia chances are slim they can actually read what's on your license (unless it's printed in cyrillic somewhere that it's only valid together with your UK license).
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