Beware of fake International Driving Permits

By: Vanessa Pogorelic

There are countless scams travellers can fall victim to while overseas, but there are also some to be wary of before you leave home.

One to keep on your radar if you’re planning on driving in any countries outside Australia is fraudulent international driving permits offered by scam websites.

Any Australian traveller planning on driving in another country is advised to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP).

In many countries, it is illegal for visitors to drive without an IDP. Handily, IDPs are also accepted as an additional form of ID when renting a car, booking accommodation, and during police checks. It is recommended that you check information for the country you are travelling to, to ensure you have the correct permits.

In the event that you’re involved in a crash while driving overseas, your travel insurance claim may be impacted if you don’t have an IDP.

Permits are only available from one source in Australia

IDPs are endorsed by the United Nations and valid in more than 98 per cent of countries around the world.

In Australia, the only organisation authorised to issue IDPs on behalf of the Australian Government is the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) and its member clubs as its sales agent. In WA, the permits can only be obtained from RAC.

However, there are a number of websites claiming to sell IDPs that are not authorised to do so. The permits they sell are fakes and often cost far more than legitimate IPDs. According to the AAA, most of these scam websites are hosted in foreign countries and mask any identifying information.

The dangers of being caught with a fake permit

In addition to taking your money, scam IDP sites may use the information you provide on their application forms for identity theft.

Holding a fake IDP while driving in another country may also place you on the wrong side of the law with local police and traffic authorities.

Some fraudulent IDPs are called an International Driving Licence or an International Driver’s Licence.

They may claim to have a validity of three years, whereas legitimate IDPs are always only valid for 12 months from the date of issue and will have the AAA logo and official stamp.

Whatever the name on the document or period of validity, if you are in WA and that permit is not issued by RAC or the AAA, it is not a legitimate IDP.

If you come across a scam website offering international driving permits, report it to the Australian Government’s Scam Watch website.

Applying for an authorised International Driving Permit

To apply for an IDP, you’ll need to have a valid Australian driver’s licence and a recent passport-size photo. As with photos for your passport, make sure your hair is not obscuring your face, remove glasses for the photo if you wear them, and ensure the background is plain white.

You can apply for an IDP in person at any RAC branch, including our travel and cruise centres, or apply online and have your IDP posted to you. If you need it quickly, apply online and you’ll be able to collect it within two business days in person from our West Perth, Carousel and Joondalup travel branches.

While driving overseas, you’ll need to carry your IPD along with your valid Australian Driver’s Licence.