Thread: Any point in getting an International Drivers License or Inter-american Driving Permi

Hi all,

Getting ready to move down to Las Tablas area as soon as we find tenants for our FL house -- could be in just a couple of weeks. Among the many questions I have, I'm wondering if there's any point in getting an Inter-American Driving Permit? I know Panama honors US licenses for 90 days if you're in the country as a tourist, but we'd be living there long-term and making necessary visa runs.

Thanks,
Susanna

They will enjoy the AAA international DL of course. Also make copies of US drivers license professionally and give them that. Never give them original as they can sometimes decide to take them.

Not sure what you mean when you say they'l "enjoy" the int'l DL. . . My question was, is it worth getting? If I have it, will I be able to drive in Panama for a year? Or will they just "enjoy" it as a joke?

not sure about the international DL but you know your visa is good for 180 days , but your FL DL is only good for 90 days so you still end up leaving every 90 days , but you can just cross the border and have lunch and return as there is nothing saying you need to be out 72 hours just to reset your DL , but from las tables that is a 6 hour drive each way , , a true pain in the butt . i think you can get a local DL but it would expire every 180 like your visa , not sure the price but it might be cheaper than leaving the country at the 90 day mark , you could ask at the ATTT office in los tables

I belive you can not get a DL with a turist visa.

According to the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, an IDP remains valid for one year from the date of issue.

International Driving Permit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

File:Countries that Recognize International Driving Permit.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Panamanians will enjoy it in the sense that they are not aware of their own laws.

I recommend you print the treaty text in Spanish so you can show the cops.

I always make sure I have a current IDL and have used it numerous times in Mexico and Central American countries. I was in an accident in Mexico and that was the only license I used. As other posters said, it is good for a year and I think there is a good chance the average law enforcement person would honor it. It doesn't cost much and I hate to give my US license to anyone as I may not get it back and it is a pain in butt to replace. Europeans often used IDLs to drive in the US. All they are are multilingual versions of your US or Canadian license...nothing magic.

No point. Your regular license works just as well. I don't know anyone who bothered to get one. Report your US license lost back at home, get a second one and then you have one as a backup in Panama.

Presenting any form of original foreign drivers license to a Panamanian cop is plain stupidity. They will threaten to send it to some center in Tocumen and then "the dance" starts. A copy sealed in plastic is the way to go.

Originally Posted by bicar

I hate to give my US license to anyone as I may not get it back and it is a pain in butt to replace.

Originally Posted by pingun

According to the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, an IDP remains valid for one year from the date of issue.

International Driving Permit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

File:Countries that Recognize International Driving Permit.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Panamanians will enjoy it in the sense that they are not aware of their own laws.

I recommend you print the treaty text in Spanish so you can show the cops.

and if this does not work, 20 bucks does go a long way .

Originally Posted by Sir Stressalot

No point. Your regular license works just as well. I don't know anyone who bothered to get one. Report your US license lost back at home, get a second one and then you have one as a backup in Panama.

Well from what i hear here, the point is that it stays valid 12 months instead of 3 months.

Seems like a good solution for people that are here on a tourist visa which is valid 180 days, and have a regular license that only stays valid 90 days.