Obtaining an international driving license

New impressions and experience - that's what travel gives us! But it is more pleasant to learn new things in the company of friends or family, according to your own plan and route, and by no means with a group of compatriots in a stuffy bus. Traveling in your own car or renting a car is not a problem for a long time, you just need to learn how to drive and have a national license. Autoinstructors Will they tell you whether it is possible to drive with a Russian driver's license or is it necessary to obtain an international driving license? It is formally not necessary to obtain international driving license for a trip, for example, to Europe. But, alas, in fact, you still have to draw up an IDP ...

What is this ridiculous paradox?

The material of the article has been updated and corresponds to reality on 04/12/2013.

How to get an MDL?

To obtain a certificate, you must have, according to the site gibddmoscow.ru:

• statement;
• Russian driver's license;
• a document confirming the issuance of a driver's license: a driver's card (if previously issued), confirmation of the issuance of a license by other state. inspections, which indicate the series and number of the driver's license, or a document on training, if it contains information about the issued driver's license (this is necessary if you are not an external worker);
• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation with registration at the place of receipt of the IDP;
• medical certificate of fitness to drive vehicles and its photocopy;
• 2 photographs (3.5 x 4.5 cm), matte, without corner, color or black and white;
• international passport;
• fee payment receipt.

To obtain a medical certificate, you can use the list of accredited institutions.

Where to get an MDL?

In Moscow, an IDP is issued:

• MREO UGIBDD of MOSCOW, Lobnenskaya st., 20, +7 (495) 485-59-73, 485-59-89
  (for the Central Administrative District, the Eastern Administrative District, the Northern Administrative District, the Northern Administrative District, the Northwestern Administrative District, the ZAO and the city of Zelenograd).
  
• MREO UGIBDD OF MOSCOW BRANCH, Varshavskoe sh., 170d, +7 (495) 382-94-42
  (for SWAD, SAD and SEAD).
  daily from 08.00 to 20.00 (excluding days off), lunch break: from 14.00 to 15.00.
• MOGTORER №1 st. Bolshaya Ordynka, 8, +7 (495) 953-28-63
  (only the exchange of driving licenses and the issuance of international driving permits).
  Tuesday: from 08.00 to 20.00, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: from 08.00 to 18.00, Saturday: from 08.00 to 17.00, day off: Sunday, Monday, lunch break: from 14.00 to 15.00.
• MOGTORER No. 1 GIBDD of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow, st. Delovaya d.15 building 1, +7 (499) 218-11-19
  (department for servicing foreign citizens).
  Tuesday: from 08.00 to 20.00, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: from 08.00 to 18.00, Saturday: from 08.00 to 17.00, day off: Sunday, Monday,
  lunch break: from 14.00 to 15.00.

For the Moscow region:

• MOTOR No. 1 at the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow Region, Moscow, st. Comintern 38/1, +7 (499) 185-89-40.
• GIBDDD MU MIA of Russia "Balashikha".
• GIBDDD MU of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia "Odintsovskoye".
• GIBDDD MU of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia "Podolsk".
• OGIBDD of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the urban district of Khimki.
• MOTOR No. 3 (Noginsk) Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow Region.
• MOTORER No. 3 (Lyubertsy) Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow Region.

The state duty for issuing a certificate is 100 rubles, and a fee for using an electronic terminal (located in the traffic police building) is about 50 rubles. Approximately, everything takes about 40 minutes, but queues cannot be ruled out, especially before the holiday season.

As can be seen from the description, the procedure for obtaining an IDP is not so complicated. In practice, a license may not be required to drive in Europe, but troubles arise more and more often.

Please note that the mere fact that you have an international driver's license does not mean that you will be able to competently, safely and in accordance with the traffic rules to move in a foreign country. At a minimum, you need to familiarize yourself with the nuances of traffic rules in another country, as well as their fines for violation. Otherwise, you may end up in the situation described in our article "Fines in Germany".

Where are IDPs required?

It all depends on what you decide to see and where to go. Driving instructors assure that an international driver's license is clearly required for travel in the Middle East, where Arabic script is used, and Asia, where hieroglyphs are used.

But this is beyond doubt, there is a completely different language (into Latin).

The main snag in the EU and the US.

Today, few people really understand whether our national rights apply in them or not. This is easy to see from the chaos that is going on in Internet forums. Someone always travels around Europe with a Russian license, someone was recently fined for driving without an international driver's license or was denied a car rental. It's not clear who to trust here.

We have collected all the necessary information and will try to explain to you, get an IDP or not!

National rights of a new type abroad

Not so long ago, the authorities of our country made changes to the familiar national driver's licenses. In this regard, the rights of a new type, brought some confusion to the issue of traveling abroad on them.

The problem immediately arose: will they be valid abroad and what should those who have an old driver's license and old IDPs do?

People began to understand this issue, and this is what turned out.

As it turned out, formally, there is no need to obtain separate international driving license for a trip, for example, to Europe. But, alas, in fact, you still have to draw up an IDP ...

What is the paradox?

Old pattern of national rights:

On the national driving licenses that were issued from 1993 to the current year (in the picture on the left), the phrase "Driver's license" was duplicated in French, and the place of residence, name and surname were printed in Russian and Latin.

Such rights, even without a corresponding translation, were valid in countries that signed an international convention on road traffic in Vienna in 1968.

Indeed, the national driver's license (a plastic card with a partial translation into French), issued in Russia, until recently gave the right to drive vehicles in the countries that signed the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968 (about 150 states), on the rights of a participating country .

However, in 2011, amendments were adopted on a new form of IDP, which are already working in the EU, the USA and some others. It is because of these innovations that Russian tourists have even more confusion in obtaining rights for Europe.

What has changed since March 2011?

The Vienna Convention has a new edition, where you can see the updated requirements for the national rights of all participating countries, as well as for new international laws.

New national university:

Today, these should be pink-blue VUs, where there is no inscription in French, but there are numbered lines, each of which indicates a column that is spelled out in the Vienna Convention.

The new form may confuse many, because there is no translation in either French or English. But do not worry: the forms will now be the same FOR ALL COUNTRIES that have signed the above convention, so no translation is required.

The main idea of ​​the new amendments to the Vienna Convention is to standardize the rights of all countries participating in the convention. For example, the placement of elements and the meaning of lines on the rights of Russia and Germany is no different.

However, representatives of some countries (moreover, those who signed the mentioned convention) declare that Russians and other foreigners need to have, in addition to new national VUs, also a new IDP, otherwise they face a fine.

For example, this rule applies in Italy. The state structures of this country declare that the fine for the lack of an IDP among Russians (note that not only our compatriots) will be from 300 euros!

Why is this happening and what to do?

Of course, you can simply prove to everyone that international rights are not needed in these countries, shake a printout of the Vienna Convention in front of the nose of the local traffic police inspector, but a monetary fine is unlikely to be avoided.

Therefore, in order not to spoil your trip, we recommend paying 1,000 rubles and getting an IDP of a new type in Russia as well.

New international driving license

Look for an article specifically about the new IDP.

An international driver's license is an additional document to the national Russian rights, it cannot be withdrawn, since it is not an independent document. In fact, this is a translation of Russian rights into other languages ​​(English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese and Chinese) with a clear explanation of what type of car the owner is allowed to drive, indicating categories and subcategories. It is an A6 size book with a gray cover. For an international certificate, you must have a national one, it is important not to forget to take it on a trip! An IDP is issued for three years, but no more than the validity period of Russian rights. You do not need to take an additional exam.

But even here, not everything is so simple: so far, new international certificates have not begun to be issued. The fact is that the traffic police do not have these forms, which must be purchased through a tender, and its organization is possible only after signing the relevant regulatory documents.

Don't Worry - Old IDPs Are Still Valid

But you still have to get new international rights cards when they appear in the traffic police departments, because the amendments also allow you to prescribe additional subcategories that are already in the new rights.

• "light motorcycles" (designation A1);
• ATVs and tricycles (B1);
• minibuses with a seating capacity not exceeding 16 (designation D1);
• light trucks up to 7.5 tons (C1).

We also wanted to include the category M, which introduces the obligatory possession of rights to drive a moped (another headache!), Which, by the way, has long existed in Europe. But for some reason they changed their minds.

What you need to remember for yourself if you are going to go abroad

1. You need to get an IDL, even if you have a new national driving license (2011).
2. At present, an old-style IDP is being issued, but in the near future (when subcategories are legalized in Russia), a new-style IDP will be issued.
3. The cost of obtaining an IDP is 1000 rubles. Here is a link to the rules for obtaining international rights.

What to expect if you do not apply for an IDL?

Now, by law, a foreign car rental company has no right to issue a car without presenting an IDP, so large companies would rather take no risks than make additional profit. Also, problems with national rights can arise when confronted with the police. And even worse if there is an insured event - the mandatory presence of international rights is spelled out in the contract.

Thus, from a legal point of view, a national driver's license is not valid abroad, but from a practical point of view, driving with a Russian license is possible in Europe, but can face serious consequences.

Also, for some time now, many embassies require a copy of international driving license to obtain a visa if you travel by car (for example, Austria).

In custody

Driving instructors assure you that the traffic police still issue international old-style driving licenses, which differ from the new ones only in the absence of subcategories, but this in no way affects their “capacity”.

International laws operate together with national ones, whose number is indicated in the IDP

Lists of countries that have signed conventions

Here is a list of countries that have signed the Vienna (formally, you can drive in these countries with any national rights) and Geneva (in these countries you can only drive if you have both national and international rights) conventions:

Comments

Boniv0518 26 April 2013 at 22:34

Today I received an IDP in the Podolsky traffic police. I arrived at 8-40, on the second floor I took a queue at window No. 6, there were 8 people in front of me. I went to pay the state duty on the street in a tent, there is a terminal - 1000 rubles. state duty and 100 for the service (also to the terminal). When the window opened and it was my turn, it turned out that a copy of our VU was also required, I went to the same tent and made a copy there for 40 rubles. I handed over all the documents without a queue, after 20 minutes they called me to the window, signed the application - it was compiled by the workers themselves and at the IDP. And that's all... Exactly one hour passed from arrival to departure. Handed over the following documents: 1. Russian passport. 2. Russian VU and its copy. 3. Medical certificate and its copy. 4. A copy of the international passport. 5. State duty receipt - on the reverse side I wrote that I refuse to receive a receipt. 6. One photo 35x45 mm without a corner. Not so troublesome.

Konstantin 26 April 2013 at 22:34

Thank you very much for the information. Such comments are always very helpful. Good luck!

Mvtikhonova May 31, 2013 at 07:51

05/28/2013 received the rights to Lobnenskaya. Arrived at 11-10. I didn’t have a medical certificate, but thanks to the comments on this resource, I knew that somewhere not far from the traffic police there is a medical institution that issues these papers. If you go from the traffic police to the arch of pipes, then on the opposite side of the traffic police there will be a factory entrance. Go inside, cross the factory yard and go up to the second floor. In 15 minutes I filled out the contract form and went around all the doctors: they check my eyesight, nervous reactions, pressure, and so on. Medical certificate costs only 1,000 rubles. So, having received a certificate and made a copy of it there for 30 rubles, I went to the traffic police. Go straight up to the second floor, take a voucher at the local terminal (because there is no IDL service in the terminals on the first floor), take the voucher, go to the window (which is indicated on the voucher) hand in a standard package of documents there, in 5 minutes you will be given an application, you give it to the office (I don’t remember the number, it’s opposite this window) and wait for the issuance of the IDP. I received it 10 minutes after submitting the application.

Konstantin May 31, 2013 at 07:44

Many thanks for the information. Congratulations on getting an MDL. Good luck on the roads!

Andrey June 04, 2013 at 22:13

06/04/2013 Received an IDP at Lobnenskaya. Arrived at 10.40. On the advice of the previous post, immediately went up to the second floor. There are terminals. The order is this - a coupon in the terminal - into the window by the number of the coupon - a live queue to room 203 - in window 23 you get your rights. It all took 20 minutes. You can pay the receipt before entering the building in tents, there are terminals - 1000r duty plus 100r fee (does not give change). Documents required: 1. Russian passport 2. Russian VU 3. Medical certificate 4. Receipt of payment 5. One photo 35x45 mm without a corner. You can make a copy of the medical certificate yourself, it will be faster. If you do not, then the operator in the window will do it. That's all. I was glad that there was no queue in the office. All the newcomers were sincerely surprised - "Am I the first? Is there no one else?"

June 18, 2013 at 09:06 pm

Experience in obtaining an IDL through GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES. Filled out the application, chose the date and time. Waited. For a long time. Until a message is received from the portal that the request is closed, because I didn't show up at the appointed time. Conclusion: the notification system about the progress of consideration of the application of this department does not work. Recommendations: fill out an application, remember the date and time, and come without an invitation. It was part 1 Part 2. I made an application for the second time. Pinned on Ordynka exactly at 11.00, went in and I was immediately accepted! hooray! It turned out that you need to have a passport with you, photo 3.5 by 4.5 matte. This was not mentioned anywhere. I lost 2 hours and ran around the whole block in search of a photo studio, somewhere there was a queue, somewhere the company had already moved out, I found it in the market in a building near Novokuznetskaya metro station. Conclusion: Public services are made through ...., before you go somewhere and arrange something, it is better to call and find out exactly what you need to take with you. But thank God, my ordeals for public services are over. Note: you can pay receipts nearby at the VPB bank, VU - 800 r, IDL - 1000 r.

S-a-buravlev June 18, 2013 at 21:06

Can! The second hall, office 5 (public services. maybe all the others)

S-a-buravlev June 18, 2013 at 21:07

Experience in obtaining an IDL and replacing a VU in terms of extending the life of documents. Situation. My VU ends in 2014. I receive an IDP today and I am warned that their validity will be limited to the validity of my national VU, that is, also until 2014. I was offered to immediately change the VU. As a result, I received new national driving licenses until 2023 and new IDLs for a period of 3 years. It is possible to change national VU ahead of schedule! (Like a passport, by the way)

Konstantin June 18, 2013 at 21:10

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. Yes, foreigners are required to fill in the same data by last name. There were cases of mismatch of letters in the surname in foreign countries and in the IDP. We have made changes to the articles. Good luck driving!

Konstantin July 09, 2013 at 07:56

You can. Upon receipt of an IDP, requests are not made.

Roman July 16, 2013 at 20:30

Unfortunately, I read reviews about receiving in 20 minutes, at 16-17 hours, etc. etc., arrived at 13.20 to Bolshaya Ordynka - the queue was no longer recorded for today. Then I hit the road to Varshavka, after lunch the same thing turned out - the record on the IDP was no longer carried out. Have to go in the morning. There is also a problem with foreigners - they are at the embassy. Will they make me an IDP without him? Copies also could not be found. What is the validity period of the fee payment receipt? Theoretically, there is a chance that I will not have time to get it before the vacation and I will have to go, hoping for a chance. Will I be able to use the "stale" receipt after my vacation?

Konstantin July 16, 2013 at 20:35

Certainly. After all, now is the season for obtaining an IDP. Everyone wants to go abroad by car. =) Regarding the receipt - This period of validity of the paid receipt of the state duty for the receipt of public services is determined by the tax code of the Russian Federation on the basis of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation and is three years from the date of payment. Foreigners are asked to issue an IDP in accordance with your details. There may be problems when writing a full name. There was a practice. So an IDP is needed. Try without it. It is not in the official list of documents - http://www.gibdd.ru/gosuslugi/reg/exm/

Roman July 17, 2013 at 11:15

Thank you, so not everything is lost :) In my foreign country it is written the same way as in Russian rights, so I don’t think there will be problems.

Konstantin 14 January 2014 at 19:15

You need to get a new IDL.

Vyacheslav 18 January 2014 at 19:40

Good afternoon. How to write a name in an IDL if it is written differently in the passport and the VU (the difference is one letter)? Is it possible to pay the fee bypassing the terminal, through Internet banking? Medical certificates are issued in two forms - with the conclusion of a psychiatrist and narcologist and without them. Which ones are valid?

Konstantin 18 January 2014 at 19:42

In the IDL it is necessary to register the full name as in your passport. If it is possible to pay fees in Internet banking - pay, but you will need to confirm your payment, Internet banking does not issue checks (as far as I am familiar with them), but the terminal issues them. So it's better through the terminal. You need honey. certificate with the conclusion of a narcologist and a psychiatrist.

Mikhail Pupyrev June 17, 2014 at 11:51

Today I received an IDP at Lobnenskaya. Everything, as the authors wrote a little earlier. I arrived at 7:50 in empty Moscow, experienced a slight shock from the number of people, but did not pay attention, waited for the doors to open, rushed to the 2nd floor and crouched at the unit for issuing numbers. I got a number with a time from 8:35 to 8:50, went outside, drank coffee from a mobile buffet - nothing coffee, by the way, but on today's morning dubak with the wind it's very pleasant. I went to the payment machine, left 1000 and 100 rubles there in exchange for a receipt and a check. I went back, after 5 minutes I was already invited to the broadcast. I was pleasantly surprised by the girl that I had a copy of the certificate and a photograph. (although all this can also be done on the spot). I received the chipped pieces of paper, took them to the inspector for signature and sat down to wait where they said. Another 15 minutes - and the cherished little book in my hands. At 9:10. The road home then took 1.5 hours.

Konstantin 10 January 2016 at 22:42

Thanks for the info. It will be helpful. The list needs to be updated.

Konstantin 10 January 2016 at 22:43

What do they say in the traffic police?

Konstantin 10 January 2016 at 22:45

Maybe it's worth getting an IDP? Is this practiced in the UAE?