Scooters + International Drivers license?

angeld · Dec 30th, 2008, 05:14

Hi all I'm heading over to Kerala soon and was thinking about hiring a scooter when in the beach resorts. Just wondering if I would need an international drivers license for this?

Cheers!

Mike Cork · Dec 30th, 2008, 05:23

You would be much better off if you carried an IDP, you can get one from either the AA, RAC or even a larger Post Office.

You will need;-
A copy of your Licence showing the class of licence you require.
A passport sized photograph.
Photocopy of your passport details.

The cost is £5.50 ( I think..! ) and only takes a few days or on the spot at the post office

Haylo · Dec 30th, 2008, 05:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by angeld

Hi all I'm heading over to Kerala soon and was thinking about hiring a scooter when in the beach resorts. Just wondering if I would need an international drivers license for this?

To drive a car or motorbike in India you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP), in the UK they're about a fiver, available from the AA by mail or over the counter from certain post offices, you'll also need to take one or two passport photos.

The IDP is clearly marked in categories, bike, car, truck &c. and if you are licenced to ride a bike in the UK you have no problem - read no further!

HOWEVER - if you're not licenced to ride in the UK, apart from the obvious problem of India being probably the worst place in the world to learn to ride a bike, you do have a more serious problem. Your IDP won't have the bike stamp and it won't be valid to ride a bike in India.

There are people in India who ride and drive without a valid licence, and they rely on bribes to get them through. There may be people on here and certainly when you hire the bike, who tell you it will be okay, but the bottom line is that it's not.

Apart from being an offence, and a complete nightmare if you have an accident, riding without a licence would certainly invalidate your travel insurance.

angeld · Dec 31st, 2008, 03:24

Thanks all, I went to my local post office today and they had no forms in stock but I did get chatting to the CSA who has been to Kerala and had a brilliant time! He recommended not driving at all ourselves, let the locals do the driving - more time for Kingfisher beer.

Hopefully we will get a form at the main post office tomorrow.

edwardseco · Dec 31st, 2008, 05:40

A good motto to live by..

Nick-H · Dec 31st, 2008, 12:41

Bottom line is that, if you do have an accident and somebody else is injured, it is not the police you have to worry about, but the mob.

dipydoo · Dec 31st, 2008, 17:38

Quote:

the locals do the driving - more time for Kingfisher beer

Sanest bit of advice anyone could have given you...

angeld · Dec 31st, 2008, 21:38

I think I'm going to leave the driving to the locals after all. Can't wait, we fly out on Friday for 3 weeks! yipee

Mike Cork · Jan 1st, 2009, 01:44

Just renewed my IDP through the RAC

Posted monday morning, received today (Wednesday) in the post. Good service..

greenman183 · Jan 1st, 2009, 02:10

when i was in goa i hired a scooter without a license, through ignorance and not choice. I assumed because so many people were doing it and the people we hired it of did not need any id it was okay. Needless to say we had to bribe several police officers, worse than that was the worry of being pulled over by the police. You are better of getting a license.

Mike Cork · Jan 4th, 2009, 08:14

Scooter ride in Goa Feb 2008. Baga Calangute area on day 1 of my last visit.

4 weeks to go

Until next visit.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VrbKyxZJCLU

whinger · Jan 4th, 2009, 15:37

Crikey, we have been hiring motorbikes in India for the past eight years and never realised we required any form of lisense, believing more that our own UK one would cover us. having said all that, we have never had had an accident and have been in Mumbai, Goa, Kerala and Tamil nadu plus many places in between - all on a bike...

Our next visit will definately be with as much 'official' paper work as we require...

Thanks for the advice..

neilpollick · Jan 7th, 2009, 20:05

I've been hiring bikes in north India, Himachal, Delhi and Uttranchal for the past year and never showed ANY documnetation.
Nor did any of my friends, ever, even the ones who bought bikes. India may have traffic laws about licences but these are the usual "latent" laws that nobody heeds (unless a policeman is short of pocket money).

Do I not speak the truth?

edwardseco · Jan 7th, 2009, 22:16

Its when the police show up that you begin to think of such bothers as insurance and license..

Dec 30th, 2008, 05:14	#1
angeld Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: MANCHESTER UK Posts: 22	Scooters + International Drivers license? Hi all I'm heading over to Kerala soon and was thinking about hiring a scooter when in the beach resorts. Just wondering if I would need an international drivers license for this? Cheers!

Dec 30th, 2008, 05:23	#2
Mike Cork Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wales UK Posts: 406	You would be much better off if you carried an IDP, you can get one from either the AA, RAC or even a larger Post Office. You will need;- A copy of your Licence showing the class of licence you require. A passport sized photograph. Photocopy of your passport details. The cost is £5.50 ( I think..! ) and only takes a few days or on the spot at the post office __________________ Only you can make it a good day...

Jan 4th, 2009, 08:14	#11
Mike Cork Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wales UK Posts: 406	Video of scooter ride Scooter ride in Goa Feb 2008. Baga Calangute area on day 1 of my last visit. 4 weeks to go Until next visit. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VrbKyxZJCLU

Jan 7th, 2009, 20:05	#13
neilpollick Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: India Posts: 4	Hiring Bikes I've been hiring bikes in north India, Himachal, Delhi and Uttranchal for the past year and never showed ANY documnetation. Nor did any of my friends, ever, even the ones who bought bikes. India may have traffic laws about licences but these are the usual "latent" laws that nobody heeds (unless a policeman is short of pocket money). Do I not speak the truth?

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Dec 31st, 2008, 03:24	#4
angeld Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: MANCHESTER UK Posts: 22	Thanks all, I went to my local post office today and they had no forms in stock but I did get chatting to the CSA who has been to Kerala and had a brilliant time! He recommended not driving at all ourselves, let the locals do the driving - more time for Kingfisher beer. Hopefully we will get a form at the main post office tomorrow.

Dec 31st, 2008, 05:40	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,845	A good motto to live by..

Dec 31st, 2008, 12:41	#6
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,225	Bottom line is that, if you do have an accident and somebody else is injured, it is not the police you have to worry about, but the mob.

Dec 31st, 2008, 21:38	#8
angeld Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: MANCHESTER UK Posts: 22	I think I'm going to leave the driving to the locals after all. Can't wait, we fly out on Friday for 3 weeks! yipee

Jan 1st, 2009, 01:44	#9
Mike Cork Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wales UK Posts: 406	Just renewed my IDP through the RAC Posted monday morning, received today (Wednesday) in the post. Good service..

Jan 1st, 2009, 02:10	#10
greenman183 Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4	when i was in goa i hired a scooter without a license, through ignorance and not choice. I assumed because so many people were doing it and the people we hired it of did not need any id it was okay. Needless to say we had to bribe several police officers, worse than that was the worry of being pulled over by the police. You are better of getting a license.

Jan 4th, 2009, 15:37	#12
whinger Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 48	Crikey, we have been hiring motorbikes in India for the past eight years and never realised we required any form of lisense, believing more that our own UK one would cover us. having said all that, we have never had had an accident and have been in Mumbai, Goa, Kerala and Tamil nadu plus many places in between - all on a bike... Our next visit will definately be with as much 'official' paper work as we require... Thanks for the advice..

Jan 7th, 2009, 22:16	#14
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,845	Its when the police show up that you begin to think of such bothers as insurance and license..

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