Is an Australian driver's licence OK in Alaska?

[Kinkacruiser]

I tried to contact Avis regarding this, but have not heard anything. Do Australians need to obtain an international driver's licence to rent a car in Alaska?

Thanks in advance.

[Glaciers]

No, you won’t need an international license to rent a car from Avis and according to this the State of Alaska does not require one either.

 

http://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/akol/new2ak.htm

[Kinkacruiser]

No, you won’t need an international license to rent a car from Avis and according to this the State of Alaska does not require one either.

 

http://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/akol/new2ak.htm

Super. Good to know :)

[Cassicruiser]

Nope. We have hired a car a few times in the US - our Australian license was fine.

[deddans]

Not sure, but I understand that while you do not need an international drivers licence to hire a car it would be needed if there is an accident involving the police in the USA. I'm happy to be corrected

[duck addict]

Not sure, but I understand that while you do not need an international drivers licence to hire a car it would be needed if there is an accident involving the police in the USA. I'm happy to be corrected

 

Every state has their own driving laws, so for Alaska, if their law says you license is O.K., then it is good for that state only.

[bottom-dragger]

Every state has their own driving laws, so for Alaska, if their law says you license is O.K., then it is good for that state only.

the IDL / IDP is accepted at the federal level as a translation into about 10 languages of your legal DL. Not something that's legislated by states.

 

the lovely mrs b-d requires that i live (and DRIVE!!!!!!) in Italy for 5 weeks every year so I've had a valid IDP for about 30 years. I've only had to show it once, at an immigration check point, where the officer w/my passport, IDP, and DL only walked halfway back to his car before he realized that we were not the droids he was looking for.

 

like half of the technical questions posted here, you should be asking your insurance carrier and rental agency, not a bunch of hacks.

 

also, in alaska we tend to drive on the right, but not always.

 

fair sailing.

[duck addict]

the IDL / IDP is accepted at the federal level as a translation into about 10 languages of your legal DL. Not something that's legislated by states.

 

the lovely mrs b-d requires that i live (and DRIVE!!!!!!) in Italy for 5 weeks every year so I've had a valid IDP for about 30 years. I've only had to show it once, at an immigration check point, where the officer w/my passport, IDP, and DL only walked halfway back to his car before he realized that we were not the droids he was looking for.

 

like half of the technical questions posted here, you should be asking your insurance carrier and rental agency, not a bunch of hacks.

 

also, in alaska we tend to drive on the right, but not always.

 

fair sailing.

 

Here is the US government's official response.

http://answers.usa.gov/system/templates/selfservice/USAGov/#!portal/1012/article/2815/International-Driving-Permit-IDP

 

Yes.. an International Driving Permit is allowed in any state. BUT the original post was whether they could use their Australian license WITHOUT one. Note the official US response indicates that use of a foreign license WITHOUT the IDP is subject to each states laws.

[mapleleaves]

The AVIS web site posts the ID requirements. However, the last sentence says that requirements can vary at each location and advises customers to contact their pick up location for specific information:

 

http://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/render-faq.ac

[bottom-dragger]

 

Yes.. an International Driving Permit is allowed in any state. BUT the original post was whether they could use their Australian license WITHOUT one. Note the official US response indicates that use of a foreign license WITHOUT the IDP is subject to each states laws.

 

 

by at least three UN conventions the US federal govt has signed, valid Australian (and other signatories) DL's used by a tourist are acceptable in all US states and territories. state's attempts to legislate otherwise have been declared unenforceable.

 

again, check with your insurance provider and rental agency about their specific requirements.

 

an IDP is beneficial if your DL is not in a language common to where you are driving.

[cruiseonecer]

As an Aussie, NO, your present license is all you need. You do not need an International Driving Permit (no such thing as a License) and the IDP is only used to translate your own current license in another language where English is not an official language. I have never obtained an IDP and have hired in Alaska, western Canada, Colorado and Nevada.

 

Insurance has got absolutely nothing to do with an IDP or not.

Edited December 26, 2014 by cruiseonecer