Q: about International Driving Permit

Not so sure on that. I drove everywhere - USA, S Africa, on UK 'international driving license'.

Judging by some of the driving standards in UK roads many people have never passed a UK driving test.

1. What kind of driving licence do you have? Full car and motorcycle Change
2. Where did you pass your test? Any other country Change

You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid driving licence for 12 months from when you became resident

After 12 months you’ll need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical driving tests to drive in Great Britain."

Presumably they hold a Saudi licence which backs the IDP, and on that basis can drive in the UK for 12 months.

Theo

I don't think an IDP *alone* qualifies you to drive in any country, it's a box-ticking add-on to a driving licence, they cost a fiver down the shops ...

This is just a translation of a normal national driving licence.

With "just this permit" they can't drive in the UK, you can't really "just" have an IDP, you must have a licence in some country for it to be valid. If they have a licence then they can drive for 12 months if now a UK resident. No IDP needed.

Dave

Yes, that is my understanding. I appreciate that in theory you need to already have to have a licence in some country (UK) to get an IDP in another (Saudi); but I suspect that part is easy to get round ... as Andy Burns says, for a fiver down the shops.

But they are acting as though this (alone) gives them the equivalent of a UK driving licence, which seems not to be the case...

J^n

If they want to find out, drive past a cop car at night without any lights on ...

USA, Canada, S. Africa, Argentina and lots of European countries. I didn't attempt driving in Brazil or China, and Mexico City was scary but I survived. All on my UK and US licences, whichever seemed more appropriate.

Just to note: there are three different varieties of IDP and a list somewhere online of which countries require which. Here's an unofficial list from the AA:

There's a time limit I think, six months maybe, then you have to get a UK licence.

Twelve months.

Can you give me a link to this info please? Thanks

J^n

Actually 12 to 36 months depending on type (i.e. country). Bottom of page:

That's the validity of the IDP, ie you can go on holiday every year for 3 years without needing a new one.

It does not mean the destination country (UK here) will let you live there for that long without getting a local licence. The link in my previous post:

Theo