International Driving Permit?

Jasmin · Jun 29th, 2008, 09:02

Is it possible to get an international driving license in India for up to one year? Or would I have to pass a driving test and be licensed there?

triliana · Jun 29th, 2008, 19:26

Jasmin,

In the United States you can get an international driver's permit for $15 US if you have a valid license through AAA - I am sure there is a Canadian Automobile Association that has the same service.

edwardseco · Jun 29th, 2008, 22:27

You can't get one (international) in India if you are Canadian. If you have a little time in India you can get a local license. I wonder where I put mine. In the US it requires a motorcycle endorsement on your state license to get such on the international..

roopeeman · Jun 29th, 2008, 22:39

You have to get one at home. Costs you some bucks and there you go.
I've heard though that in order to get a licence in India, you pay the officer a little extra, you drive around the block once, smile and there the licence will be yours! Maybe you should'nt expect such a procedure in central Mumbai...

Nick-H · Jun 29th, 2008, 22:57

It is not easy to get an Indian driving license as a foreign visitor/tourist: you have to be a resident.

roopeeman, you over-estimate the difficulty of the driving test! The inspector took two of us, the first person drove to the end of the road, and I drove back. Rather unfairly, she, an actual beginner, got the job of turning the car around, which I could have done with my eyes shut. That's life.

Visitors who want to drive here (mad, crazy fools!

) should get the International Permit in their own country; it is easy and cheap and lasts a year.

roopeeman · Jun 29th, 2008, 23:41

So it does actually work like that?!

Wicked!

Nick-H · Jun 29th, 2008, 23:47

Yes!

There's supposed to be a theory test, but I never took it.

There was no passing of cash, but a fellow testee told me not to worry, as were going through a driving school, everything wouyld have been arranged and there was no chance of failing.

To be honest: I'd much rather there was a decent test.

roopeeman · Jun 30th, 2008, 01:13

Ok, that's a different story. What do they teach you anyway in autoschool? 1. There are no rules. 2. Blow the horn constantly.
3. death is an illusion anyway. ???

Nick-H · Jun 30th, 2008, 01:32

Actually I needed lessons to get the courage to drive in India. To do stuff like turn out from a side road, despite oncoming traffic...

The guy was very good. I don't know if he would have passed a British driving test, but then techniques differ --- but if someone like him taught every Chennai driver, it would be lot safer out there.

A sub-urban main street not far from us saw no less than five deaths in several accidents on Friday evening.

dzibead · Jun 30th, 2008, 02:05

There was a segment on the U.S. reality show, The Amazing Race, where the contestants had to attend a driving school in Chennai and then drive through the city streets to "pass" a driving test to (supposedly) get their driver's licenses. If this in any way resembled what's actually required to get a driver's license in India, I'm not surprised that Nick saw five deaths in one evening.

Nick-H · Jun 30th, 2008, 02:18

Our real test took place on a quiet back street: it did not involve encountering any other traffic at all.

That is probably really worse than anything you might have seen on the TV!

Munivar · Jun 30th, 2008, 02:24

I did try out driving a bike when I landed in Chennai...and drive the car on the way from Erode to Coimbatore.

I found myself getting unnerved quite a few occasions.

I remember myself being quite the consummate Indian driver...both in cars (clocked around 50,000 Kms on our office Sumo) and bikes...(bike trips to Ooty..Bangalore, college times in Chennai etc).

Either I have lost my edge or the traffic has 'evolved' into something more leaner and meaner than my previous capabilities...maybe a combination of both..but I have become more mature nowadays and resist the temptation to push myself...unlike my reckless younger days..

Nick-H · Jun 30th, 2008, 02:36

Quote:

.but I have become more mature nowadays and resist the temptation to push myself...unlike my reckless younger days.

I thought things had eased up a bit out there on the streets!

Seriously... I think there is a combination of a huge increase in traffic, and a huge decrease in common decency and thought on the roads, just in the past very few years.

zoltan · Jun 30th, 2008, 05:35

Hi Jasmin,

I'm with Nick - would you really[b] want to drive in India ???

Cheers
Zoltan

Nick-H · Jun 30th, 2008, 13:56

Well, actually I do drive in India, and I generally tell people it is not as bad as it looks!

I've had a while to get used to it, though; I think it is less of an option for short-term visitors. Also, I am used to Chennai city driving, and the relatively peaceful and good road out as far as Pondicherry. I am still shy to take on one of the major National Highways.

The biggest problem for visitors driving is finding something to drive. It seems to be common in some areas, such as Goa (Pondy, maybe?) that motorbikes and scooters are available for hire, but getting a car without driver attached is difficult and expensive.

Jun 29th, 2008, 09:02	#1
Jasmin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 167	International Driving Permit? Is it possible to get an international driving license in India for up to one year? Or would I have to pass a driving test and be licensed there? __________________ 'Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome' - S. Johnson Last edited by Jasmin : Jun 29th, 2008 at 19:02.

Jun 29th, 2008, 22:57	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	It is not easy to get an Indian driving license as a foreign visitor/tourist: you have to be a resident. roopeeman, you over-estimate the difficulty of the driving test! The inspector took two of us, the first person drove to the end of the road, and I drove back. Rather unfairly, she, an actual beginner, got the job of turning the car around, which I could have done with my eyes shut. That's life. Visitors who want to drive here (mad, crazy fools! ) should get the International Permit in their own country; it is easy and cheap and lasts a year. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jun 30th, 2008, 02:24	#12
Munivar Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 231	I did try out driving a bike when I landed in Chennai...and drive the car on the way from Erode to Coimbatore. I found myself getting unnerved quite a few occasions. I remember myself being quite the consummate Indian driver...both in cars (clocked around 50,000 Kms on our office Sumo) and bikes...(bike trips to Ooty..Bangalore, college times in Chennai etc). Either I have lost my edge or the traffic has 'evolved' into something more leaner and meaner than my previous capabilities...maybe a combination of both..but I have become more mature nowadays and resist the temptation to push myself...unlike my reckless younger days.. __________________ Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kaelir !!!

Jun 30th, 2008, 05:35	#14
zoltan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 645	Hi Jasmin, I'm with Nick - would you really[b] want to drive in India ??? Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

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Jun 29th, 2008, 19:26	#2
triliana Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 64	Jasmin, In the United States you can get an international driver's permit for $15 US if you have a valid license through AAA - I am sure there is a Canadian Automobile Association that has the same service.

Jun 29th, 2008, 22:27	#3
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,924	You can't get one (international) in India if you are Canadian. If you have a little time in India you can get a local license. I wonder where I put mine. In the US it requires a motorcycle endorsement on your state license to get such on the international..

Jun 29th, 2008, 22:39	#4
roopeeman Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: London Posts: 42	You have to get one at home. Costs you some bucks and there you go. I've heard though that in order to get a licence in India, you pay the officer a little extra, you drive around the block once, smile and there the licence will be yours! Maybe you should'nt expect such a procedure in central Mumbai...

Jun 29th, 2008, 23:41	#6
roopeeman Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: London Posts: 42	So it does actually work like that?! Wicked!

Jun 29th, 2008, 23:47	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	Yes! There's supposed to be a theory test, but I never took it. There was no passing of cash, but a fellow testee told me not to worry, as were going through a driving school, everything wouyld have been arranged and there was no chance of failing. To be honest: I'd much rather there was a decent test.

Jun 30th, 2008, 01:13	#8
roopeeman Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: London Posts: 42	Ok, that's a different story. What do they teach you anyway in autoschool? 1. There are no rules. 2. Blow the horn constantly. 3. death is an illusion anyway. ???

Jun 30th, 2008, 01:32	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	Actually I needed lessons to get the courage to drive in India. To do stuff like turn out from a side road, despite oncoming traffic... The guy was very good. I don't know if he would have passed a British driving test, but then techniques differ --- but if someone like him taught every Chennai driver, it would be lot safer out there. A sub-urban main street not far from us saw no less than five deaths in several accidents on Friday evening.

Jun 30th, 2008, 02:05	#10
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,077	There was a segment on the U.S. reality show, The Amazing Race, where the contestants had to attend a driving school in Chennai and then drive through the city streets to "pass" a driving test to (supposedly) get their driver's licenses. If this in any way resembled what's actually required to get a driver's license in India, I'm not surprised that Nick saw five deaths in one evening.

Jun 30th, 2008, 02:18	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	Our real test took place on a quiet back street: it did not involve encountering any other traffic at all. That is probably really worse than anything you might have seen on the TV!

Jun 30th, 2008, 13:56	#15
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	Well, actually I do drive in India, and I generally tell people it is not as bad as it looks! I've had a while to get used to it, though; I think it is less of an option for short-term visitors. Also, I am used to Chennai city driving, and the relatively peaceful and good road out as far as Pondicherry. I am still shy to take on one of the major National Highways. The biggest problem for visitors driving is finding something to drive. It seems to be common in some areas, such as Goa (Pondy, maybe?) that motorbikes and scooters are available for hire, but getting a car without driver attached is difficult and expensive.

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