Alexander decided to rent a car abroad. He had questions: is the national Russian driver's license (Russian license) valid in this country? Do I need to take an international driver's license (international driving license); where and how to get an international license. We will help him and you understand these issues.
Glossary: IDP - International driving permit (IDP). It is a book with a translation of a driver's license into 8 languages. These are the official languages of the UN: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese. Additional: German, Japanese, Arabic.
NDP is a national driver's license (that is, a regular Russian driver's license).
IDP cover
Spread of the IDP book
International conventions on road traffic - country groups
The type of driver's license that you need to take abroad depends on several conditions: what country you are going to, what conditions are imposed by a particular rental office.
There are three groups of countries that have different international road traffic legal provisions. They have different requirements for a driver's license.
Group 1 - acceded to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on November 8, 1968.
Group 2 - acceded to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic on September 19, 1949.
Group 3 - have not signed either the Vienna or Geneva Conventions and recognize only their national rights.
Some EU countries have ratified both conventions. And since 2013, a unified driver’s license has been issued in Europe. Let's start in order.
Order 287 of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation with the latest changes
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Vienna Convention countries - what driving licenses are needed
Let's consider the history of the issue. The USSR signed and ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. The Russian Federation is the legal successor of the Soviet Union. We have the rules of this international document, to which 77 countries have joined as of 2021.
In Russia, the State Traffic Inspectorate issues two types of driving licenses: national and international. Everyone receives a national license after successfully passing exams at a driving school. They can be new or old.
Old-style driver's license in the form of a paper book (issued before 2011)
Old-style driver's license in the form of a plastic card (issued before 2011)
In 2006, the rules of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic were amended and a new national driving license standard was adopted. All countries that signed the convention had to switch to the new standard within 5 years.
In Russia, the new type of rights comply with the Vienna Convention. The traffic police began issuing them on March 1, 2011, 5 years after the amendments were made to the convention. For a list of countries in which our national driver's license will be valid, see the table below.
New Russian national driver's license. Personal data is duplicated by transliteration in Latin letters and new categories of vehicles are introduced
Some Russian drivers will drive with old driver’s licenses until 2021, since licenses are issued for 10 years. Be sure to get an International Driving Permit if your license was issued before March 1, 2011. Otherwise, the rental office will refuse to issue the car, or the police will issue a fine.
Convention on Road Traffic, Vienna, November 8, 1968, as amended and supplemented: https://base.garant.ru/2540357/
Article 43 of the Vienna Convention.
1. Contracting Parties shall issue national driving licenses in accordance with the new version of Annex 6 no later than five years after its entry into force.
National driving licenses issued in accordance with the previous versions of Articles 41, 43 and Annex 6 of this Convention before the expiration of this period shall be recognized during their validity period.** 2. Contracting Parties shall issue international driving permits in accordance with the new version of Annex 7 not later than five years after its entry into force. International driving permits issued in accordance with the previous versions of Articles 41, 43 and Annex 7 of this Convention before the expiration of this period remain valid, subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 41**.
A comment. The article explains in what cases only national rights can be used, and when international ones are needed. Appendix 6 describes the new requirements for the national driving license. Appendix 7 describes the new requirements for an international driver's license.
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Geneva Convention countries - what driving license is needed
Neither the USSR nor the Russian Federation ratified the Geneva Convention. In our country, traffic rules are consistent with the Vienna Convention. However, the requirements for obtaining a driver’s license differ between the Vienna and Geneva Conventions.
Geneva Convention on Road Traffic
Article 24 of the Geneva Convention.
1. Each Contracting State shall permit a driver entering its territory and satisfying the conditions specified in Annex 8 to drive on its roads, without a new test, motor vehicles of the category or categories meeting the definitions of Annexes 9 and 10 for which the license to drive was issued to him. a permit to drive a motor vehicle by the appropriate authorities of another Contracting State or one of its territorial subdivisions, or by an association authorized by such authorities, shall remain in force after the ability to drive a motor vehicle has been established.
2. A Contracting State may, however, require a driver entering its territory to be in possession of an international driving permit conforming to the model given in Annex 10, in particular when the foreign driver arrives from a country where a driving permit is not required. driving, or if the domestic permit issued to him does not correspond to the model given in Appendix 9.3. An international permit is issued by the competent authorities of one of the Contracting States or one of its territorial subdivisions, or by an association authorized by these authorities, with their seal or stamp to drivers who have proven their ability to drive vehicles. The permit gives the right to drive, without a new test, in all Contracting States, vehicles belonging to the category for which it is issued.
A comment. Paragraph 1 allows a citizen of a foreign state to drive a vehicle if his driver’s license meets the requirements of Appendix 9. Otherwise, paragraph 2 indicates the need to obtain an international license.
Geneva Convention. Appendix 9. Sample permit to drive a car.
Size: 74 x 105 mm Colour: pink 1. The permit shall be drawn up in the language or languages prescribed by the laws of the State in which it is issued. 2. The title of the document is indicated in the language or languages indicated in the previous paragraph, followed by its translation into French “permis de conduire”. 3. Directions written by hand are given (or, in any case, repeated) in block letters of the Latin alphabet or in cursive...
A comment. The line “permis de conduire” (French: “Driver’s license”) was added to the new Russian license of 2011, but was removed in the edition of the license of 2014. They probably removed it because Russia only ratified the Vienna Convention, and there is no such requirement there.
A Russian citizen will not be able to take advantage of Russian national rights in countries that have only acceded to the Geneva Convention. Our national driving license does not meet the requirements.
If you are traveling to a country that has joined the Geneva Convention, apply for an international driver's license from the traffic police. It must be presented to the local police together with your national license. Without an IDP, you will not be given a rental car or scooter.
How much do international licenses cost?
1600 rub. international driver's license costs.
For the production of an IDP you will have to pay a state fee of 1,600 rubles. Until January 1, 2021, there was a 30% discount for electronic filing of applications.
Article 333.33, Part 2 of the Tax Code of Russia.
The amount of the state fee for state registration, as well as for performing other legally significant actions for issuing an international driver’s license, including replacing a lost one or one that has become unusable, is 1,600 rubles;
Validity period of an international driver's license
The IDP is valid for three years or until the national driving license expires. If your Russian license expires in a year, then your international license will expire in a year. This is a requirement of the Vienna Convention.
Article 41 paragraph 3 of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
3. National legislation may limit the validity of a national driving license. The validity of an International Driving Permit is limited to the expiration date of the National Driving Permit or the expiration date not exceeding three years from the date of issue of the International Driving Permit, whichever occurs first.**
Help “How to register on the government services portal Gosuslugi.ru.”
Order 403 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation as amended
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How to get an international driving license
Algorithm for obtaining an IDP using the State Services website:
Step 1. To submit an application and pay the state fee online, go to the State Services portal in your browser https://www.gosuslugi.ru
Step 2. On the main page of the site, in the search bar, enter the query “obtaining an international driver’s license.”
Search line
Page “Obtaining an International Driving Permit”
Step 3: Follow the instructions.
Instructions on the website
Step 4. Obtain a license from the selected department of the State Traffic Inspectorate. Don't be late. It is better to arrive earlier than the appointed time in order to have time to get a ticket. Sometimes there are queues.
https://traffic police.rf/divisions/ - find the nearest division of the State Traffic Inspectorate
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What documents are needed for an IDP?
To submit an application, you need data from your national driver’s license (without it, an international driver’s license will not be issued) and passport. Instead of a passport, you can take a foreign passport for those permanently residing abroad or a military ID for military personnel. When applying in person, always take original documents.
When obtaining an IDP, in addition to a driver's license and ID card, you will need a 35 x 45 mm photograph in color or black and white, on matte photo paper. Such a photo is not taken at the State Traffic Inspectorate. Bring it with you. Issuance of documents on the day of admission takes no more than an hour. The time will depend on the queues.
Once again we remind you of the list of documents for an international driving license:
- national driving license;
- passport (or international passport, or military ID);
- photograph 35 x 45 mm.
A medical certificate is not required. Take your photo in a photo salon. The State Traffic Inspectorate will not be able to do it.
Order 152 of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation with the latest changes
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Requirements for photographs on an IDP
The face should occupy 70-80% of the frame.
Leave “air” at the top. The following requirements apply to the photograph for an international driver’s license: — size 35 x 45 mm; — color or black and white; - on matte photo paper; - prescription - no more than six months; — the background is preferably light (we did not find any strict requirements); - without a headdress (with the exception of religious beliefs that do not allow you to appear in public with your head uncovered); - glasses are allowed if you wear them for medical reasons (not tinted, without glare or blur in the photo); — the face occupies at least 70-80% of the total area of the photo; - Strict dress code is preferred.
Remember
- In countries that have ratified the Vienna Convention, a new Russian national driver's license issued after March 1, 2011 is valid.
- Even if a country has ratified the Vienna Convention, the police or private rental company may ask for an international license.
- In other countries that have not ratified but acceded to the Vienna Convention, they will ask for international rights plus national ones.
- If you are traveling to a country that has only acceded to the Geneva Convention, be sure to make an international license. In these countries, our national driving license itself is not valid.
- An international driver's license is valid only upon presentation of an old or new national driver's license. Take your IDP along with your DDP on the road.
- International rights are valid for three years or until the expiration of national rights (whichever comes first).
- To obtain an international license, you will have to pay a state fee of 1,600 rubles (price without discounts).
Other articles about driving licenses
Scooter rental abroad - what category is needed?
In this article, we will look at whether it is possible to ride a scooter without a license abroad and what category is needed in our international license. Let's figure it out. It’s easy to get around on scooters or mopeds…
Features of using a Russian ID abroad
Now let’s look at some aspects of the use of Russian military equipment abroad, based on the Geneva and Vienna Conventions.
According to the Vienna Convention
According to this document, no difficulties should arise for holders of Russian rights, both of the model before 2011 (paper, laminated) and the model after (plastic with Latin dubbing). There is no need to make a notarized translation of your driver's license into the language of the state where you are going to go. You also do not need an international driver's license. However, it is always necessary to keep in mind that not all participants have ratified this international agreement (remember Spain and the UK).
In addition, an important point remains the fact that countries with a dual agreement can act under both the Vienna and Geneva Conventions. Take this factor into account, it can become both your insured event and cause a lot of trouble.
Another important point is your right to move using an international DP, but it only applies if you have a DDP.
According to the Geneva Convention
As noted above, the parties to the Geneva Convention recognize the national license ONLY in combination with an international driver's license. Therefore, the use of only Russian rights in such states is unacceptable.
