Many drivers, faced with the need to rent a car abroad, are surprised to discover that domestic licenses are not suitable for this purpose. Not many people know what an international driving license looks like. In Russia, a document of a completely different type is valid, and, unfortunately, not all countries accept it as confirmation of your driving skills. Those who like to travel in comfort will need to get extra crusts. What kind of document is this, where to get it and many other nuances we will clarify further in the article.
What does an international driver's license look like in Russia?
Why do you need an international driver's license and what kind of document is it?
The driver can prove his right to drive a car by presenting the appropriate certificate. In our country, it is issued by a structure such as the traffic police. Every citizen who has passed the following exams can immediately obtain a Russian driver's license:
- theoretical test on knowledge of traffic rules;
- an exam at a race track, proving that a novice driver can perform such basic actions as starting to drive uphill, parallel parking, driving along a complex trajectory, etc.
Personal transport has become commonplace for those who want independence when moving. Losing your driver's license creates a lot of inconvenience. And driving without them is risky. This threatens serious problems with the law. We will tell you in detail about how to restore lost rights in a special article.
Today there are two main types of driver's licenses:
- national;
- international.
Domestic licenses are not suitable for renting a car abroad; instead, you need to obtain a document in a different format containing information about the driver in several foreign languages
According to the rules in force in this area, in Russia you can move on the roadway on the basis of a national type certificate. It not only certifies that you have knowledge in the required area, but also confirms that you have successfully completed training at a driving school and passed both internal and state exams.
However, in some cases, having a national ID is not enough to travel outside our country. In these cases, you will need to obtain an international license.
In fact, an international license is an official document that is a translation of your driver's license, since it contains the following data:
- Driver's full name;
- date of issue of the document and duration of its validity;
- name of the authority that issued the issuance;
- series and document number;
- categories of vehicles that, according to the law, you have the right to drive
Since the rules under which driver training is carried out in our country and in other countries are significantly different, there was a need to create a single certificate that could remain valid throughout the world.
International rights do not give the right to travel on Russian roads; only national ones are suitable for this.
Application for rights
To obtain a driver's document to drive a vehicle, you must contact the traffic police department, providing the following package of papers:
- statement;
- identification document, including a foreign passport;
- rights issued on the territory of Russia;
- papers certifying completion of training to drive a car;
- black and white or color matte photograph 35 x 45 mm.
Important! From February 16, 2021, a medical certificate is no longer required to obtain an international driving license.
The application for a certificate must include the following information:
- FULL NAME. applicant.
- Date and place of birth according to passport.
- Passport details.
- Number of the Russian driver's license listing the permitted categories.
- Passport details.
- Date of application.
- Applicant's signature.
Further, the driver's license is registered in a separate register. When they are issued, the owner signs the register or the application if it is filled out automatically.
The national certificate, which was the basis for issuing an international license, remains with the driver and cannot be confiscated.
You can apply for a driver's license using the link below. It is also shown in the photo.
What does an international driving license look like?
You can see the international driver's license in the photo presented in this section of the article. They are a book printed on A6 format, which, in addition to data in Russian, also contains translations into the following seven languages:
- German;
- French;
- Chinese;
- Japanese;
- Spanish;
- Portuguese;
- Arab.
This international license cannot be called an independent document, since it is valid only if you have a domestic driver’s license.
In addition, in Russia it is in principle prohibited to use this paper separately. For legal travel on domestic roads, only a national license is suitable.
International driving licenses differ from national ones in appearance, but their content is one hundred percent the same.
Results
Experienced drivers recommend that those who go abroad for the first time follow some basic rules:
- An international driver's license will not be valid without a simple driving license issued in Russia.
- Some states have different traffic rules than those in our country, so you should study them carefully before getting behind the wheel.
- Driving on Russian roads only with a driver's license of international standard is not permitted by traffic rules.
- Although many traffic rules in European countries allow travel with a Russian driver's license, you may still encounter law enforcement officials on your way who can find fault and issue hefty fines for not having an international driver's license.
- And to travel on the roads of states that are not members of the Vienna Union, it is generally prohibited to participate in traffic without an international driver’s license.
Therefore, if your plans include traveling by car on the roads of other countries, it is still better to have this little book with you.
You can read other useful information on this topic on our website.
And if you have any problems obtaining an international driving license or have any questions, please contact our legal experts for advice.
Why get an international license?
There is only one reason for obtaining an international license - unhindered travel while driving a car on foreign roads. However, considering the nuances of the emergence of such a need in more detail, we can identify several grounds for obtaining rights.
Table 1. Reasons for obtaining an international driving license
| Cause | Description |
| Car rental | Most often, the need to obtain a license arises in cases where you plan to go on a trip and rent a car locally for greater mobility. With Russian rights this cannot be done almost anywhere, but with international rights – anywhere. |
| Simplification of bureaucratic procedures | In addition, having an international license deprives you of the need to prove every time that you know how to drive and know the rules of the road when arriving in a new state. It is necessary to prove the required competencies, for example, if you often go on business trips, or go abroad for permanent residence. |
The difference between international rights and domestic identification also lies in the rules for obtaining the required papers. So, in order to obtain a driver’s license valid all over the world, there is no need to take repeated exams, however, its validity period will be much shorter than that of a domestic license.
Obtaining an international driving license is a rational solution for those who want to travel in comfort, or those who often go on business trips abroad. Those who are planning to go to another country for permanent residence will also need these rights.
Is it necessary to obtain an IDP in 2021?
Since 2011, residents of our country have received national rights in a new format, in the form of a card that is well protected from damage. It contains an exhaustive amount of information, which, upon verification, will be sufficient for representatives of foreign transport services.
Therefore, today the need for obtaining international rights has actually disappeared, but not completely, since practice shows that today various misunderstandings still arise in many countries.
Therefore, when answering the question regarding the need to obtain international rights for traveling abroad, you need to keep in mind which country you are traveling to, since each foreign country has different requirements on this issue.
- Thus, countries that have signed the relevant Geneva Convention require the presentation of not only international, but also national rights in order to be able to drive a car on roads running on their territory.
- Countries party to the Vienna Convention will calmly provide you with transport based on the presentation of national rights issued directly in the country at the place of citizenship.
- Those states that have not taken any of the agreements described above into account can allow you to drive a car only on the basis of a license obtained in their country.
Despite the fact that the format of national rights has been somewhat updated, they are still not enough for unimpeded movement on the roads of most countries
Which countries do not require an international driving license?
According to the requirements for an international document, world states are divided into 3 groups:
- participating in the 1968 Vienna Convention;
- in the Geneva Convention of 1949;
- did not accept any of the documents.
The states that were present at the signing of the Vienna Agreement require a domestic license of the latest type to operate a car, i.e. issued after 2011. If the license looks like a pink and blue plastic card, then it will be enough to drive a car abroad.
Those countries that signed the convention in Geneva require an IDP and a Russian VU to operate cars on their territory. In such a situation, the international document acts as confirmation of the Russian document. If you have to go to a country that has not accepted any of the conventions, you will have to obtain a local driver's license there to be able to drive a vehicle.
You cannot drive on Russian territory with an international license if you don’t have a national one. In the Russian Federation, only domestic rights are valid, and international ones are not presented to traffic police officers. If the driver drives a car with an IDP, the violator will face an administrative fine in the amount of 500 rubles. This punishment is provided for in Art. 12.3 Code of Administrative Offences.
On the ground, the situation is often different.
- In countries where, according to the convention, IDPs are accepted, they require a Russian driver's license. In the States, traffic police ask to see your national driving license. But the United States signed the convention and agreed to the terms authorizing the international instrument.
- Italy has signed all conventions and accepts any VU. But car rentals require you to provide an international ID.
To avoid getting into a difficult situation, it is better to obtain international rights. It doesn’t cost much to pay for a document, but it helps you avoid so many problems.
How to get an IDP
You can get an international driving license in Russia at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. Not necessarily at the place of registration; the document can also be drawn up at the location.
We would like to remind you that in all cases, by the time you receive an international license, you must already have a national one. Only then does the preparation of the paper we are interested in become possible.
In addition, you can order an international driver's license through:
- official electronic resource of the traffic police;
- website "Public Services";
- multifunctional
Another method, which is rarely used, is to submit an application to the International Automobile Alliance, which is recognized by countries around the world. She is engaged in the translation of driver's licenses, so if there is a certified intermediary in your city, you can ask him to help you obtain the desired document.
You can obtain an IDP remotely or through a personal visit to the traffic police or MFC
The procedure for obtaining international rights will be as follows:
- you prepare the necessary documents;
- choose the method of obtaining rights;
- fill out an application.
What documents are needed to obtain an IDP?
Today, to obtain an IDP you do not need:
- retake exams;
- undergo a medical examination.
Therefore, all you need to become an “international driver” is:
- national ID;
- passport;
- several photographs in 3.5 by 4.5 centimeters format.
Prepare your passport and driver's license
Answers to frequently asked questions
People who are getting an international license for the first time often have questions because this topic is poorly covered. They often ask about exams, fines and registration.
Do I need to take exams to get an IDP?
There is no examination or testing to obtain an international driver's license. The document is prepared on the basis of the existing domestic Russian national VU.
Can they refuse to obtain an international license?
Traffic police officers refuse to issue an international certificate to the applicant:
- when the driver is not yet 21 years old;
- An error has been discovered in the documents provided and must be corrected;
- the applicant has lost his domestic Russian ID or it has been deprived of it within the framework of current legislation; until the DP is restored, the IDP cannot be issued.
There are no other obstacles to the issuance of international rights.
Do I need to pay fines in advance to obtain an IDP?
Obtaining documents of international standard has no relation to the administrative penalties of the motorist, therefore such a requirement is inappropriate. When traffic police officers insist on paying off all debts, lawyers advise filing a complaint with higher management.
It is recommended to request from the employee a written refusal to issue a driver’s license due to non-payment of fines in order to obtain a basis for filing claims.
Is it possible to apply through State Services and how?
Yes, you can submit an application for an international certificate through the portal. The procedure follows the following algorithm:
- Log in to your account, which must be confirmed, otherwise the service will not be available.
- Open a tab that lists all categories of assistance provided.
- Select driving and transport, open a driver's license.
- Find your international ID in the list that opens and click on the link.
- Confirm the type of service – electronic.
- Fill out an application on the portal in your personal account.
- Select an appointment date at the State Traffic Inspectorate.
- When the application is submitted, the citizen will receive details for the state duty fee.
- How much it will be depends on the payment method. If you deposit money online through State Services, the applicant will receive a discount. When it is not possible to pay through the website, they contact the savings bank, post office or terminal with the details.
- The received receipt is submitted along with the documents to the State Traffic Inspectorate.
- When confirmation of acceptance of the application for an IDP is received in your personal account on the portal, go to the selected traffic police department on the appointed day.
At the reception, the employee will check the data in the application with the original documents, check whether the state fee has been paid, and then issue an IDP.
Is it possible to drive with an international license in Russia?
No, an IDP does not replace a national driver’s license in any way. Absence will result in a fine of 500 rubles. Without Russian rights, international rights lose their legal effect.
Is it possible to drive abroad without a national Russian driver's license?
An IDP is issued to the applicant on the basis of an existing domestic Russian ID. Therefore, you won’t be able to drive without a national driving license. If a citizen in Russia is deprived of his rights, then he will automatically not be able to drive a car abroad, since the IDP becomes invalid.
When traveling abroad, you should study in advance the traffic rules of the state where you will be driving. Traffic rules may differ from Russian ones. Particular attention to fines—impressive administrative penalties are applied to traffic violators abroad.
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How long does the IDP last?
The validity period of international rights is three years from the date of their receipt. However, it should be noted that according to the rules, they cannot be valid longer than the national license.
It turns out that if you issued an IDP for three years, and the domestic certificate ceases to be valid next year, along with it the international certificate will become invalid.
You can renew your IDP only after your domestic driver’s license is reissued. At the same time, you again will not need to collect documents according to any specific list; all the same ones that we announced earlier will be enough.
The validity period of international rights is three years from the date of their receipt
