3. IDP necessary?
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IDP necessary?
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I'm travelling to Spain next week and intending to hire a car a few days after arrival.

I'm still on a paper UK driving licence (no photocard) and the guidance online seems slightly vague as to whether I'd need to get an IDP in order to drive there.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

It seems clear an IDP isn't required for Spain if I have a photocard licence.  However the general EU guidance says I "may" need one if I hold a paper licence.  The specific Spain guidance says no IDP needed (but that I should check with with hire company - can't do this as rental not booked yet).

Does anyone have any experience with this with which they can can enlighten me?
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Re: IDP necessary?
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So, you're planning on renting a car in Spain, you don't have a photocard and the guidance says that you might need one (legally).

It doesn't matter whether or not you legally need an IDP to drive in Spain if the rental car company won't rent you a car without one.
Effectively, your question is a compound question consisting of whether you legally need an IDP and whether or not the as yet undetermined hire car company will rent you a car without one.

I say wing it. If you get there and can't get a car, it doesn't affect us.
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I am responsible for the accuracy of the information I post, not your ability to comprehend it.
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Re: IDP necessary?
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That's the conclusion I was leaning towards, i.e. erring on the side of caution (in the absence of anyone with particular experience of expertise in this area confirming it would not be required).  Not having booked the car yet, I'm in the position of being able to bypass hire firms who demand an IDP if it isn't a universal requirement.
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Re: IDP necessary?
« Reply #3 on: »
I think Andy might be being sarcastic. It seems to me to be risky to be reliant on the hire company's desk being happy with a paper licence regardless of what their head office / customer service desk / website says.
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Re: IDP necessary?
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Quote from: Stedman on October 16, 2025, 12:34:11 pm
I think Andy might be being sarcastic. It seems to me to be risky to be reliant on the hire company's desk being happy with a paper licence regardless of what their head office / customer service desk / website says.
I agree. For £5.50 it's not worth the risk.
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Re: IDP necessary?
« Reply #5 on: »
Sorry if it wasn't clear - I was agreeing with Andy's sarcasm! It's not worth the risk if I can't get sufficient confirmation it won't potentially be needed (either by police or rental firm).
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Re: IDP necessary?
« Reply #6 on: »
there can't be mny left out there with paper licences! Surely you must be approaching the age where you will have to get a new licence, and that will have to be the plastic version. That will cover you in EU countries for car hire.
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Bus driving since 1973. My advice, if you have a PSV licence, destroy it when you get to 65 or you'll be forever in demand.
Re: IDP necessary?
« Reply #7 on: »
Still over 4 million paper licences out there according to a google search.

Don't need to change it for a photocard until I reach 70 which is still almost three decades away!
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Re: IDP necessary?
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Quote from: MrChips on October 17, 2025, 10:29:08 pm
Still over 4 million paper licences out there according to a google search.

Don't need to change it for a photocard until I reach 70 which is still almost three decades away!

Only if you never change address between now and when you reach age 70. If you change address you have to surrender the paper licence and will get a photocard in replacement with your new address (or if you change your name, eg on marriage).

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that about 10% of the licences currently in existence are still paper licences but ageing and changes of address/name must be steadily reducing that.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2025, 02:30:43 pm by PallasAthena »
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Re: IDP necessary?
« Reply #9 on: »
Quick update/resolution to this one.

Hired the car on 25 October.  The member of staff in the rental office initially claimed that a lack of photocard licence would prohibit me from being able to hire the vehicle.  Luckily I'd emailed their head office in advance to get written confirmation that my paper licence would be acceptable and upon showing him this he relented.  He did ask if I had an International Permit which I showed him - not sure if it would have been a deal breaker or not if I had not had it, but I was glad I did.
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  3. IDP necessary?