Commenting on the “Driving in the EU if there’s no Brexit deal”*
technical note released today, Edmund King OBE, AA president,
said: “The Government has confirmed that if there is ‘no deal’
then UK drivers wishing to drive in Europe will need to get an
International Driving Permit (IDP). In fact, in some
circumstances, such as driving into France and then Spain,
drivers will need two separate IDPs as Spain, Eire, Malta and
Cyprus have not ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention.
“This will be an extra burden for UK drivers wanting to take a
holiday abroad. We are also disappointed that from the end of
January next year the AA will no longer be permitted to issue
IDPs as we have done for decades. We had campaigned to maintain
the right to issue these permits but the Transport Secretary has
decided that IDPs will only be issued at post offices.
“A National Audit Office report in July** reported that post
offices may be issuing anywhere between 100,000 and 7 million
IDPs in the first year should no deal be agreed with the EU.
“We envisage quite a rush on post offices next year for the £5.50
IDPs if no deal is reached. Hopefully an agreement can be reached
to prevent further red tape and expense for drivers.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
*
Government Background
How holders of UK driving licences would be affected if the UK
leaves the EU with no deal.
After March 2019 if there’s no deal
Your driving licence may no longer be valid by itself when
driving in the EU.
If you move to another EU country to live, you may not be able to
exchange your licence after the UK has left the EU.
What you would need to do
Driving in the EU
If there is no deal with the EU, you may need to obtain an
International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in the EU. An IDP is
a document which when carried with your driving licence means you
would be able to drive outside of the UK including in EU
countries. There are different types of IDP. Which one you need
depends on which country you are driving in.
If you currently drive outside the EU, for example in some states
of the USA and countries including Japan, you may already be used
to obtaining an IDP.
You may be turned away at the border or face other enforcement
action, for example fines, if you don’t have the correct IDP.
You may also need an IDP to hire a vehicle when you are abroad.
There are 2 types of IDP required by EU countries. Each is
governed by a separate United Nations convention.
One type is governed by the 1949 Geneva Convention on
Road Traffic.
The other type is governed by the 1968 Vienna Convention on
Road Traffic.
The version of the IDP you would require depends on which EU
country you are visiting and whether it is party to the 1949 or
the 1968 convention.
Each type of IDP is valid for a different period.
The 1949 convention IDP lasts for 12 months. After 28 March 2019
in the EU, a UK issued 1949 IDP would be recognised in Ireland,
Spain, Malta and Cyprus.
The 1968 convention IDP is valid for 3 years, or for however long
your driving licence is valid, if that date is earlier. The UK
ratified the 1968 convention on 28 March 2018, as a part of our
EU exit preparations. The 1968 convention will come into force
for the UK on 28 March 2019. After 28 March 2019, a UK issued
1968 convention IDP would be recognised in all other EU
countries, plus Norway and Switzerland.
** The NAO report released in July 2018 states:
The International Driving Permits (IDPs) project had not
completed a business case or agreed detailed delivery plans. The
Department has asked the Post Office to submit detailed delivery
plans, including for the training of staff, so as to be ready to
issue IDPs by the end of January 2019.
Currently 89 post office branches issue around 100,000 IDPs
annually.
The Department estimates that this may increase to 4,500 post
offices issuing anywhere between 100,000 and 7 million IDPs in
the first year should no deal be agreed with the EU.
In July 2018, the Department reported to us that it regarded the
project as deliverable.
