Got my International Driving Permit!

If you're going abroad and already have a driver's license, an international driving permit (IDP) is a handy thing to have. There is a large number of countries that recognize the IDP, and will let you drive if you have a valid US license and the IDP.

There is all sorts of misinformation about the IDP floating around in cyberspace. It is NOT a substitute for a regular driving license, and is NOT a way for folks who've lost their regular license due to serial DUI's to be able to drive.

What it is: A booklet with a basic translation of a regular license into Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, German, Spanish and Swedish. There is also a list of countries that recognize the IDP. You have to have your regular license with you in order to drive.

In the US, you can get an IDP from AAA. For those of you in the Fox Valley, just go to the AAA office on McCarthy in Appleton. (Go west on College from 41 to the intersection after Casaloma. The AAA office is in the same building as the Shell gas station.) Bring two passport pictures, $15 and your regular license. They can also do the pictures there for you. The IDP will be legal for 1 year, and you can specify the start date.

So, now I can drive in Japan! They drive on the "other" side of the road, and sometimes that's irrelevant as the road isn't wide enough to have two sides. But, overall, Japanese drivers are very safe and very courteous. I may not need to drive, but if I get the opportunity, I can do so legally for a year.