Getting The International Driving Permit

I woke up in Osaka recently with the desire for a more familiar breakfast. The city has an incredibly vibrant neighbourhood called Amerika-mura, which features loads of western-inspired fashion hubs, snack stores, food trucks, souvenir shops, and more. So, that is where I went.

Having recently enjoyed some noodles at Oahu’s fantastic Marugame Udon location, I decided to flip the script and head to Amerika-mura’s location of the popular Hawaiian mini-chain Eggs ‘n’ Things. The location has a lovely (if slightly MOR, like a tape that’s been copied) Hawaiian vibe and plenty of familiar staples on the menu.

A Tip from Antarctica

The hostess sat me at a communal dining table, where I was instantly greeted by a friendly fellow in a familiar accent. He was visiting Osaka on a stopover from his work as a paramedic in Antarctica. Apparently, the National Science Foundation sends folks from all walks of life down there in support (either directly or in field support roles) their ongoing research program on the frigid continent. This gentleman had recently completed a tour of duty, and so was holidaying in Japan.

We spoke about our recent experiences in the Land of the Rising Sun. I was immediately interested to hear that he had recently done the near-mythical “Mario Kart” go-karting experience on the streets of Tokyo. One of the greatest recent developments in a city full of fun has been the launch of tours, where you can wear costumes and drive in go-karts, through the busy streets of one of the world’s biggest metropoles. I have seen these hilarious-looking tours on one of my own previous trips, racing up the streets of Ginza to the bewilderment of luxury shoppers.

I had always thought, however, that it would be quite difficult to participate in one of these rallies, on account of the requirement to hold an International Driving Permit. Not every country requires such a permit in order to rent or drive a vehicle on public roads: on a recent trip to New Zealand, I had no such issues renting and driving a car on the left side of the road. Japan, like many countries, however, does require this permit. I had always put the ambition of driving in Japan to the side as a result.

Obtaining the Permit

My fellow American then informed me that it was actually quite easy to obtain the International Driving Permit! As it happens, you can simply pop into any AAA location to apply. It costs $20, and you do not need to be a AAA member to purchase a permit. The AAA website says that payment is accepted via cheque or money order, but AAA locations should accept credit card purchases. Don’t get too excited though, if you’re hoping to get a travel-category  points bonus from your purchase on your credit card statement: AAA is categorised as a financial service rather than a travel agency.

Obtaining the permit does not require a test, just a valid US drivers license. You will need two passport photos (signed on the back) in order to complete the transaction. AAA offers this service, but I found it to be half as expensive ($8) to simply have the passport photos taken at a local Walgreens store. The entire photo process itself took about 5 minutes.

It is also possible to complete the International Driving Permit application by mail. AAA claims that it takes about two weeks to deliver your permit, so if you don’t live in an area with a full-service AAA office readily accessible, I would give yourself a wide enough berth to have your application fulfilled.

Travelling with the IDP

The permit comes in the form of a paper booklet. It won’t fit in your wallet, and is slightly larger than the size of a standard US passport. I wouldn’t count on it fitting in any passport case that you may have, unless you have a very deluxe passport wallet.

There are a number of different translations inside the booklet of the rules, requirements, and permissions afforded to you as a carrier of the IDP. Ten languages are provided, so in the event that you have a run-in with a police officer in a foreign country, hopefully the language barrier will be at least partially solved. The booklet also includes a list of all of the countries and territories supported by the Permit.

You will need to present both a normal state-issued driver’s license as well as the International Driving Permit when renting or operating a car in a country where the Permit is required, so keep it in a safe place during your travels!

I will be back in Tokyo again soon, with the intention of completing my karting odyssey. Stay tuned to see how it will work to put the IDP into action!