Old style pink licence - still valid?

Pops_20

I will be applying for an international driving permit in a few days and I was wondering if the old style Irish licence is still valid?

It doesnt expire until 2020 so I don't want to get the new credit card size one until then. However if it's not accepted for the International drivers permit application or even when I go abroad then I'd rather find out now and get it sorted.

CiniO

It is still valid.

Pat Is The Baker

Pops_20 wrote: »

I will be applying for an international driving permit in a few days and I was wondering if the old style Irish licence is still valid?

Fully Valid - IT's good until the expiry date...

coylemj

Pops_20 wrote: »

I will be applying for an international driving permit in a few days ....

May we ask why you are applying for a IDP? It's not required in most countries and it's useless on it's own - where it is required, you must present it with your Irish driving licence i.e. it is not acceptable anywhere as a stand-alone driving licence. In general terms, it's only required in countries which do not use the Latin alphabet (A, B, C etc.)

It's a bit of a scam really but doubtless a nice little earner for the AA.

Pops_20

coylemj wrote: »

May we ask why you are applying for a IDP? It's not required in most countries and it's useless on it's own - where it is required, you must present it with your Irish driving licence i.e. it is not acceptable anywhere as a stand-alone driving licence. In general terms, it's only required in countries which do not use the Latin alphabet (A, B, C etc.)

It's a bit of a scam really but doubtless a nice little earner for the AA.

I will be travelling to Japan and I plan on doing some driving which requires an International driving permit, along with the Irish driving licence as you said.
I agree that it's a total scam as you have to present your original licence to get it anyway, so it doesn't add anything extra for the price.

My other question is would the old Irish licence be accepted abroad? It's fairly flimsy looking compared to the new style licences!

nim1bdeh38l2cw

Pops_20 wrote: »

I will be travelling to Japan and I plan on doing some driving which requires an International driving permit, along with the Irish driving licence as you said.
I agree that it's a total scam as you have to present your original licence to get it anyway, so it doesn't add anything extra for the price.

My other question is would the old Irish licence be accepted abroad? It's fairly flimsy looking compared to the new style licences!

The IDP is a translation of your regular license, nothing more, nothing less. You will need one in Japan.

Yes, the old style license is perfectly valid abroad.

zilog_jones

IDP is definitely required in Japan, they like to do everything by the books there. And your licence is your licence - most old EU licences were flimsy paper just like ours.

I drove there a bit last year, so let me know if you have any questions.

Alun

zilog_jones wrote: »

IDP is definitely required in Japan, they like to do everything by the books there.

I thought it was more to do with countries that don't use the Latin alphabet, e.g. China, Russia, Japan etc.

CiniO

zilog_jones wrote: »

And your licence is your licence - most old EU licences were flimsy paper just like ours.

True, but that was long time ago.
I had my paper licence until earlier this year, and whenever I had roadside check on the Continent, policeman were always looking with a bit of disbelief that I still have licence like that.
Most EU countries didn't issue paper licences since the 90's.


PS. I'm by no means saying they didn't accept it. They were just surprised - that's all.
r

redcup342

With the IDP don't bother getting it unless the Car Rental Company explicitly asks for it.

It has zero legal standing anyway and the cops will not be interested in it.

You'll also read some extra fake news online in some countries like "you'll need to go to the local AA to get it stamped and validated for a charge of X amount" such as in Sri Lanka.

This is complete horsesh*t as well.

zilog_jones

They'll all ask for it in Japan. For example: https://rent.toyota.co.jp/eng/drive/

English language skills are not the best there, so for them an IDP is a common point of reference as it's the same format internationally (even though the ones issued by AA Ireland do not contain Japanese).

My previous remark about how "they like to do everything by the books there" - there will be no leeway there, and you will likely get turned down if you do not bring your IDP. This is a country full of bureaucracy, formalities, rubber stamps, etc.