.... not a question on driving exactly but more what documentation I will need to dirve a car in the States (self drive holiday booked in UK).

I have my UK paper license (not needed to update to the new photo card yet) but just wondered if this will be OK for use in USA or will I need an international driving permit.

Anyone got any recent experience?

DR There's always a way forward!

2008 Freelander Td4 GS - Stornoway Grey - Now Gone - Sob
2011 Freelander Td4 GS 150 - Rimini Red - in its place - Better x far x 4!!

i was there last october and just used my photo licience freelander 2 SE black and beige - now sold

One of my boys was out there for the second time earlier this year and his standard UK licence was enough for ten days hire of a rental car.

I used my photo. Make sure you get a dirty great truck! I love driving out there

Last edited by dunroof on 30th Oct 2012 7:03 pm. Edited 1 time in total

its just all the CDW carp they insist that you have, we booked a hire car from LA for a month, all pre-paid in the UK and the LA office insisted we bought CDW and loads of other stuff that we already had ! we even had our letter stating CDW was included plus fuel refill + sat nav but the LA office wanted credit cards to the value of $32000.00 first before they would release the car ! so we had to pay out another $380 dollars before we even left the airport !

We had our money refunded eventually ! 6 months after our return ! We returned our hire car to an office in San Francisco. Budget car rentals, Miserable lot as well.

I took my in car camera whilst we were out there as we did some 4000mile + and glad we did as the driving now is no where near how it used to be and you can get severely carved up nowadays! almost run off the Road near calico with 2 cars racing !
We have family in Vista San Diego and even they say the driving has deteriorated something chronic ! very few make a stop now days or use a turn signal for which you can be fined.
We hired great big Dodge and it was great, sounded lovely, did about 17mpg so lots of fuel stops.

Last edited by dunroof on 30th Oct 2012 7:02 pm. Edited 1 time in total

dunroof wrote:

no roundabouts.

It is unusual for my learned friend dunroof to be mistaken - but - on this occasion a correction is in order.

Currently there are over 2600 European style "traffic roundabouts in place in the USA. Given the geographic size of the US this clearly is very few, however, following a 2010 traffic safety survey by the US Department of Transport that concluded: European style "roundabouts" result in 51% less traffic injuries and 75% fewer "conflict points" (That's "incidents" in English) their construction is being rapidly accelerated. For more on the subject visit:

www.roundaboutsusa.com

The very popular American newspaper USAToday felt that the importance of this development merited reporting the advantages of this safety improvement to their readers, and gave instructions on how to navigate a traffic roundabout. See:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-06-23-roundabouts_N.htm

In addition to the European style traffic roundabout the US has always had "traffic circles", the main difference in usage is that these circles can have traffic moving in both direction around them and pedestrians have access to cross the road onto and off them.

Finally, in my experience the most relaxing place to drive in N. America is Canada - anywhere - but especially in the north. The Canadians are so respectful and polite in or out of a vehicle.

Americans call them "turning circles" , when I first heard this I thought I was going to end up at a self help group for gender changers

Last edited by dunroof on 30th Oct 2012 7:02 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Well as in all matters there's statistics and statistics dependant upon which source you access. The US Department of Transport stated "more than 2600 in use" - they could be wrong and if they are I really don't care. US official departments of all kinds have been wrong on oh so many subjects.

And, I did comment in my post that: "given the size of the US this is clearly very few" end of quote. Not withstanding that - there are European roundabouts in the USA. They exist, even on interstate highways and more are being built. That's what the Americans say.

-o0o-

Warning personal rant follows:
US roundabouts and traffic circles have no consequence for me as I'll never visit that land again until such times as they reform their "Homeland Directive", which they won't. No problem - there's a whole planet out there full of interesting nations who don't insist on taking my finger prints or demanding a photograph of my iris. Even Stalin and Hitler didn't demand that, and neither does the Islamic Republic of Iran or Syria.

Truly democratic states reserve that process for those accused and/or convicted of committing a criminal act. Since when has the actual process of entering a country with a valid passport supported by a visa (if required) been a criminal act?

Last edited by athelstan on 12th Jun 2012 9:28 am. Edited 1 time in total

+1 on Athelstan's rant. I also found it odd that I was asked if I had ever been involved in "moral turpitude" A legal term in America I know....but somehow it still conjures up pictures of nuns and large vegetables! John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

moral turpitude = towing a caravan on a busy road on a bank holiday At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Last edited by dunroof on 30th Oct 2012 7:01 pm. Edited 1 time in total