What does an international driver's license look like and how does it differ from a national driver's license?

In order to be able to get behind the wheel without fear when traveling to another country, it is better to find out in advance which driver’s license you can drive there with. Indeed, in many states it is impossible to do without international rights. But an inexperienced traveler-motor probably doesn’t know where he can go with a national license and where he will need an international one. What are the differences between these documents? What do international laws look like? Do I need to study additionally to get them?

What are IDPs?

In terms of functional load, both documents are no different. Since both the IDP and national rights indicate that a person can drive. However, there are many important differences between them. Including in appearance. Every Russian motorist knows perfectly well what a national license is.

It looks like a regular plastic bank card. This is a very convenient format: you can easily store an important document in a wallet, which everyone usually takes with them. But what do international rights look like? The driver does not know this until he is faced with the need to obtain them. By the way, the IDP is significantly different from national rights.

The obvious difference is the size and format. The first one is larger and is a little book. At the top of it is written the name of the state in which it was issued. It must be emphasized that this inscription is made in letters with gold embossing. And under it you can see the country of origin icon. That is, for Russia there will be the designation RUS.

The book consists of several sheets. Since the IDP necessarily includes translation of information into a foreign language. The document also contains dubbing of Russian words, performed in transliteration. The IDP must contain information about the issue, its validity period, series and document number. And, of course, information about the driver is included in the license, mentioning what categories of vehicles he has the right to drive.

It is also worth paying attention to one significant point: how does an international driver’s license differ from a regular one? There is more photography in the IDP than in national rights. The photo should be matte. After gluing it into the booklet, a stamp is placed on it so that it covers the lower right corner of the image.

National rights

By the way, the national ID in Russia has recently changed. Adjustments have been made to comply with the requirements of the Vienna Convention. Although there have been no key changes in appearance, it is still worth recalling them, if only to once again compare how international laws differ from national ones.

So, such a document is executed in the form of a plastic card. On the left edge there is an oval emblem made of red letters. This is the RUS icon, which gives an understanding of the country of origin of the driver's license. On the right side is the name of the document: capital letters, red color.

The new license includes all information about the driver and the license itself. They indicate when they were issued and what their validity period is. On the reverse side there is a table in which you can find out which categories of vehicles the driver has the right to drive.

The procedure for obtaining a driver's license requires, among other things, that the citizen must take a photograph. For national rights it can be either black and white or color. But there should not be a white corner on it.

By the way, the old-style documents remain valid today. They are made in the form of a paper book. But drivers prefer plastic cards. After all, this is much more practical: they do not wear out as quickly as paper books, and information is not erased.

Features of each document type

After the adoption of the conventions, amendments were repeatedly made to them, and, therefore, the appearance of the driver’s license also changed. But it should be noted that a previously issued document, which differs from modern rights, is recognized in the states that signed the Vienna Convention until its expiration.

What do educational institutions look like in the CIS countries?

Modern driver's licenses in the Russian Federation and other CIS countries comply with the latest requirements of the Vienna Convention and are a plastic card with a photo, personal data and all permitted categories on the front side.

The back lists all the possible categories and marks those that are allowed. It also contains notes and limitations. The original text is duplicated only in English.

To ensure that citizens of other countries do not get confused, the paragraphs are numbered. An interesting feature is that there are fourteen paragraphs in total, but the thirteenth is missing. Now let’s look at how an international driver’s license differs from a regular document in appearance.

International certificate

Unlike national rights, international ones are a paper book in A6 format. The cover is gray, the pages are white. They are connected to each other - stitched with thread along the entire height of the paper.

The size of the required photographs also differs: on documents that comply with the Geneva Convention - 3.5x4.5 cm, while on conventional licenses - 3x4 cm.

The main differences between driver's licenses

Undoubtedly, it is important to learn not only what an international driver’s license looks like in order to understand how they differ from national ones. No less significant are other differences between these documents. The most important difference is that a driver can use a national license on their own - it confirms that a person can drive a car without providing any additional paperwork.

But if we talk about the IDP, then such a document is invalid when there are no state national rights in hand. So, when traveling abroad, there is no need to think twice about taking a national or international ID. Because you need to have both an IDP and a Russian license.

It is quite logical that there is also a difference in the issue of where such documents are valid. In Russia, drivers are required to provide national licenses. When traveling outside your homeland, you must have an IDP with you. The difference in the validity period of documents is very significant. Domestic motorists know very well that their native licenses last quite a long time - for 10 years. But IDPs are not issued for such a long period.

The maximum you can count on is three years. But even then there is no guarantee that the driver will be issued an IDP of exactly this validity period. It all depends on how long domestic rights are valid. Since the validity period of an international certificate cannot exceed the period during which national rights are used. Accordingly, if they need to be changed soon, then the IDP will be issued for a shorter period.

Another important nuance that drivers are interested in knowing: is insurance paid on the basis of a driver’s license? You can count on it when traveling abroad only when you have an IDP in hand plus a medical certificate has been issued in a foreign country. With domestic rights there is no need to wait for payments - you need to have a separate policy.

Read also: Photo requirements for an international license in 2021 New driver's license 2021

The procedure for obtaining a driver's license

The differences between the national driver's license and the international standard do not end there. There is also a difference in the package of documents that are needed to prepare such “crusts”, as well as in the procedure for obtaining them. It is insignificant, but it is better to become familiar with such subtleties in advance.

In any case, the driver will have to collect the papers, attach a corresponding application to them and submit them to the traffic police. However, the list of documents required for an IDP and for national rights is different. And the most important difference is that you can get an international ID only when you already have a domestic one in hand.

To obtain a Russian license, you need to go with a passport, a medical certificate and a certificate of passing the exam, as well as a photograph. True, a medical certificate, as well as a document confirming a successful test of knowledge of traffic rules, are not always necessary. It all depends on whether a citizen receives a license for the first time or changes it after expiration, in connection with what situation he needs a new certificate - due to a change in personal data, due to the addition of a category.

What documents are needed to obtain international rights in 2021? It is mandatory for an IDP to have a domestic ID and a passport – both civil and foreign. Plus, you need to take a photo of the corresponding sample.

As for the actual procedure for obtaining documents, there is a difference here too. For example, for national rights you may need to pass an exam, but to obtain an IDP you will not have to pass a knowledge test. It takes a long time to issue a Russian driver's license: it can take up to 30 days from the date of application. And an IDP is issued literally within an hour.

Need for training

What is the difference between national rights and IDP? In the training requirements for applicants for these documents. If a citizen receives a Russian license for the first time, he must take courses. The same requirement applies to persons who want to achieve a new category or return their license after committing an offense while driving.

As for IDPs, they are obtained without undergoing training. The main thing is to have national rights in hand. After all, on this basis an international certificate is issued. And a Russian license confirms that a person knows how to drive a car.

Obtaining and using an international driver's license

If you have a new Russian license, such a certificate fully complies with the requirements of the Vienna Convention, and you can drive a car with it abroad in countries participating in the convention.

And then drivers face different situations. Most often, a Russian driver’s license is enough to resolve all issues on the road. But sometimes there are situations when problems arise on the roads abroad with such a certificate - for example, the police refuse to register an accident or the rental office does not register a car for rent.

An international driver's license can be changed both before it expires and after it expires. This is the case when no one will be fined for late replacement.

To replace an IDP that has expired, you will need to submit the same package of documents to the traffic police and pay a state fee in the same amount as when receiving an IDP for the first time.

You can drive in Russia without an international driver's license. If you do not carry it with you, do not have it at all, or drive a car with an expired IDP, there is no liability.

Is it possible to drive abroad without a national license?

Even if you have a valid international driver's license, you will still need a Russian license.

Issuance of an IDP is a public service. Such a certificate is issued only by traffic police departments. There are many offers on the market from private companies that offer to buy an IDP in the form of a plastic card or one that looks similar to a certificate issued by the traffic police. But these are nothing more than beautiful printed products - they have no legal force. For their use, you will have to answer according to the laws of the country where the driver tries to drive the car.

Where international laws apply

The key question that interests drivers traveling to other countries is whether they always need to carry an international driving permit with them? But there is not and cannot be a definite answer - it all depends on where exactly the Russian is going.

Read also: Obtain an international license through the MFC in Moscow

Issues regulating relations between countries in the field of road traffic are regulated by agreements concluded at the international level. For example, the Geneva and Vienna Conventions are dedicated to them. The first was compiled back in 1949, and the second – 20 years later. And Russia is a signatory to both documents. Therefore, to find out which countries require an international driver's license, it is worth getting acquainted with these documents.

International driver's license - rules for obtaining

In accordance with clause 33 of the Rules for Conducting Examinations, an international driving license is issued for a period that does not exceed the validity period of the Russian permit for driving a vehicle.

For example, in practice, a driving license is issued for 3 years if national rights are valid for another five years. When the period ends in a year, the issuance occurs for this period of time.

The legislation provides for the following reasons for refusal to issue an IDP:

incomplete package of documents;
documents contain corrections in pencil;
expiration of the validity period of the submitted documents;
availability of information about deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle;
The documents presented are fake.

Traffic police officers report the decision in writing.

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An international driving license IAA is a document that allows you to drive vehicles of various categories on the territory of foreign countries.

In essence, an international driver's license (IDP) is an official translation of a national license into 8 foreign languages - English, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish.

This document is issued in paper form in the form of a booklet. Information about the driver, as well as about open categories, is duplicated on each page, but in different languages.

In Russia, an international driving license can only be obtained from the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate.

The application is submitted at the nearest branch of the State Traffic Inspectorate, through the State Services portal or at the MFC.

There is no requirement to pass a theoretical or practical exam. In addition to the application, you must provide your passport or other identification document and a Russian driving license.

Like other types of legally significant documents, the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate issues an international driver’s license only after preliminary payment of the state fee. In this case, its size is 1600 rubles.

A receipt for payment with all the necessary details can be obtained from the traffic police department where you intend to go to receive the document, add the payment amount, your data and go to the cash desk of any bank. When paying through the State Services portal, after filling out the application, you should select the name of the traffic police department, and then transfer the funds using one of the methods offered by the system.

The renewal of an international driver's license is carried out by the agency that issued it. In Russia, this is only the traffic police.

The procedure for replacing a document can be carried out at any department of the State Traffic Inspectorate, regardless of the motorist’s registration.

If your Russian license is about to expire, you should first replace it and then apply for an IDP. This approach will avoid repeating the procedure in the near future.

Since replacing a certificate is possible only at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, if you stay in a foreign country for a long time, to obtain a new document you will have to return to your homeland for a couple of days and contact the nearest department of the State Traffic Inspectorate. You can also choose an alternative method and obtain a residence permit of the country in which you are located, if its laws allow this.

If you do not have a valid IDP on the territory of a foreign state, you may face the following troubles:

foreign rental companies will refuse to rent a car;
refusal to pay compensation for damage in the event of an insured event during the operation of the vehicle;
a fine from the local traffic police or other punishment for driving without a license;
a ban on further entry into the territory of a certain state.

Each state has its own laws.

This also applies to road traffic: when entering a foreign country, you need to have documents recognized by the authorities supervising movement on the roads of that country.

Each state is a separate legal entity. But, according to international agreements, car licenses issued on the territory of partner states are recognized as valid.

Recognition of driver's licenses of other states occurs according to international agreements. The main ones:

Geneva Road Traffic Convention 1949 (Geneva CRC). Ratification by 96 countries. Later, some joined the Vienna Convention.
Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (Vienna Convention on Road Traffic) 1968. As of 2021, it has been ratified by 75 countries, including Russia.

New driver's license 2021

Application (when submitting an application via the Internet, it is generated almost automatically and you do not need to take it with you)
Identity document (passport)
National driving license (your license)
Photo 35*45 mm (color or black and white, it doesn’t matter) on matte paper. As you can see, the photo requirements for an IDP are not very strict. An attentive reader might even notice that the photo on my IDP is the same as on my Italian visa.
For some reason, the receipt for payment of the state duty is not indicated anywhere, but despite the fact that I paid online, they asked me for a receipt. Just after payment, print it out and take it with you.
International passport - in general, this document is not needed, but you may be asked in what transliteration to write your name on your license. If you want it like in your passport, then take a copy with you so as not to get confused.

A medical certificate is not required to obtain an international license! You won't have to take any exams either!

Lately, wherever possible, I’ve been trying to use the State Services portal, it’s really convenient. Therefore (and also in order to save money - 1000 rubles for two), I applied for an IDP through government services . Now I’ll tell you step by step what and where to click. By the way, if I didn’t take screenshots, filling out one application and payment would have taken me no more than 5 minutes.

International laws are not like ordinary ones. If a national driver's license is a card the size of a bank card, then an international license is an A6 book, or 148 × 105 mm. It is made on paper and cannot be laminated.

On the inside page of the first cover page are the conditions under which the IDP is valid. It is not valid for driving in the Russian Federation, but it is valid on the territory of other states - but together with a national driver’s license. And if you move to a permanent place of residence in another country, it loses its validity.

An international driver's license can be changed both before it expires and after it expires. This is the case when no one will be fined for late replacement.

To replace an IDP that has expired, you will need to submit the same package of documents to the traffic police and pay a state fee in the same amount as when receiving an IDP for the first time.

International driving license 2021

Of course, for those drivers who do not intend to leave the country, there is no need to obtain such a license. But this document is extremely important for those people who often visit other states. It is international rights that make it possible to drive a vehicle here.

The holder of an international license can drive his own car in another country, or rent a car. In addition, such a document is quite capable of replacing a passport. With these rights, you can buy tickets, book a hotel room, and perform many other procedures where identification confirmation is required.

Here, a lot depends on which method was chosen to obtain an international document. For example, if you contact the nearest traffic police department, there is a possibility that you will be able to get your license the very next day. Although it is possible that if this department is overloaded with such applications, the period for producing the document may be extended.

As for the State Services portal and the MFC, you will have to wait a little. But practice shows that drivers are willing to wait, since when ordering a document on the State Services portal, there is a discount on the state duty. In total, the procedure takes about three days. This is explained by the fact that the multifunctional center plays the role of a kind of intermediary. Receiving documents from the driver, the center employee transfers them to the traffic police. After the document is produced, it is returned to the MFC, where the applicant receives it.

A driver’s right to drive a particular type of vehicle is confirmed by a driver’s license. Today, there are two types of this document:

national;
international.

According to the Traffic Rules, driving on roads of national importance is possible on the basis of a national certificate. It not only gives its owner certain rights and obligations, but also confirms that he has gone through all the stages required by law:

graduated from a driving school;
passed internal exams within the educational institution;
successfully passed theoretical and practical tests at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate.

Where to get an international driving license
Differences between international rights and national ones

For car enthusiasts who prefer driving outside Russia, international driving licenses are of particular interest. This document allows you to drive a car or other vehicle around the world, and not only in countries that recognize a Russian driver’s license.

As of 2021, there are only 69 countries recognizing Russian rights. We do not provide a complete list. Let us only note that these states are present on all continents - from Eurasia to Oceania. But there are more than 200 countries in the world, which means that more than half of the states require a driver from Russia to have an international license.

There is no option to take an international driving license. The document is done in addition to the national university and does not require passing additional exams. How to get an international driver's license in 2021, what is its validity period and what is required to complete the paperwork, we will tell you in this material.

Also read: What is an international driving license needed for and where is it valid?

What is a Russian driver's license

According to the traffic rules, every motorist must have with him a document confirming his driving rights. According to Russian law, it is called a driver's license. It is issued for driving vehicles within the country.

This does not mean that you cannot travel abroad with them. They simply operate unconditionally on Russian territory. The possibility of their use in other countries depends on the international laws and regulations of the specific country of entry.

Russian or national driving licenses are issued to citizens subject to certain conditions. The future driver must reach the age at which he is allowed to drive the appropriate vehicle. This rule is established by the Law “On Road Traffic Safety” No. 196-FZ. In addition, to obtain a certificate you need to undergo a special medical examination and pass an exam.

Russian drivers can also obtain international driving licenses. They are issued on the basis of national rights. The procedure for obtaining them has certain features. Let's look at how an international driver's license differs from a regular one.