Question 1

What is the difference between the 1949 and 1968 Conventions?

Accepted Answer

Both are United Nations conventions on road traffic that let a driver licensed in one country drive in another. The 1949 Geneva Convention came first and describes its International Driving Permit in Annex 10, valid for one year. The 1968 Vienna Convention replaced it between states party to both, describes its permit in Annex 7, and runs for three years. Vienna also obliges its parties to recognise domestic licences that meet its Annex 6 format, which Geneva does not.

Question 2

Which Convention applies if both countries signed both?

Accepted Answer

Article 48 of the 1968 Vienna Convention states that, between parties to both instruments, Vienna terminates and replaces the 1949 Geneva Convention. So if you are driving between two states that are party to both — Germany and France, for example — the 1968 rules govern.

Question 3

How long is an International Driving Permit valid?

Accepted Answer

A permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention is valid for one year from the date of issue. A permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention is valid for three years from issue, or until the underlying domestic driving licence expires, whichever comes first.

Question 4

Does an International Driving Permit replace my driving licence?

Accepted Answer

No. Under both Conventions an International Driving Permit is a standardised multilingual translation of a valid domestic driving licence. It carries no driving entitlement of its own and is only valid when presented together with the domestic licence it refers to. It is also never valid in the country that issued the licence.

Question 5

Who is allowed to issue an International Driving Permit?

Accepted Answer

Under both Conventions a permit may only be issued by a Contracting Party or by an association that the Contracting Party has duly authorised, and only to a person who already holds a valid domestic driving licence issued by that same state. In practice that means you obtain a Convention permit in the country that issued your licence, not from a provider in another country.

Question 6

Why do some countries accept my licence without any permit?

Accepted Answer

Article 41 of the 1968 Vienna Convention requires parties to recognise a domestic driving licence that conforms to the format set out in Annex 6. Where both countries are party to Vienna and the licence meets that format, no separate permit is needed. Countries under the 1949 Geneva Convention have no equivalent obligation, which is why a permit is more often required there.

Question 7

What vehicle categories do the Conventions use?

Accepted Answer

Both use categories A for motorcycles, B for cars and light vehicles up to 3,500 kg, C for goods vehicles over 3,500 kg, and D for passenger vehicles with more than eight seats, with E denoting a combination with a trailer. The 1968 Vienna Convention adds sub-categories such as A1, B1, C1 and D1 for lighter vehicles within those classes.

Question 8

Is China a party to either Convention?

Accepted Answer

No. China is not a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention or the 1968 Vienna Convention, which is why International Driving Permits are neither issued in mainland China nor generally recognised there, and why visitors normally need a temporary Chinese licence instead.