Can I drive in North Carolina with a EU drivers license?
In an entry to travel.se on reciprocal agreements for learner drivers, it is mentioned that in North Carolina:
The International Drivers License is NOT recognized in North Carolina and cannot be used as a drivers license.
On the referred page it is however stated that
Residents from other states or countries may operate vehicles in North Carolina using their drivers licenses. The same restrictions or limitations as imposed by their home states or countries apply in North Carolina.
These two lines do however contradict each other since a local drivers license always is an intrinsic part of a International Drivers License.
What is the rationale behind denying IDP's and allowing local, foreign, drivers licenses. Also the use of the word "may" in "Residents from other states or countries may operate vehicles" is confusing.
So with an EU drivers license, can I or can't I drive in North Carolina?
Best Answer
Greetings from North Carolina!
so. after some research through the dmv online, I have found your answer and its convoluted reasoning.
Yes, you can drive with your European Driver License. What NC does not accept is the "International Driver License." Reason being that it is not a legal document from any governing body, but merely a translation of your license. You must Actually Have your Real License to drive here in NC whether you're visiting from Phoenix or Paris.
https://www.ncdot.gov/download/dmv/handbooks_NCDL_English.pdf (see p.24, second line, "A nonresident of North Carolina is,")
https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/moving/ (see white box, midway, right side)
Now if you want to Move here, that's a Whole Separate Situation. :)
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Answer 2
The terminology seems a bit sloppy but it's mostly a question of semantics. An international driving permit is a separate document that can only be used together with the original driver's license. So it makes sense to specify that it isn't valid by itself. Also, it's perfectly possible to recognize (some) licenses without requiring nor recognizing IDPs.
Whether you may drive with yours typically depends on where you obtained it. Although I don't know about the rules in North Carolina, agreements (in the US and elsewhere) do not apply to EU licenses as such but only to specific countries. On the other hand, the sentence you quoted would seem to imply that North Carolina unilaterally recognizes any driver's license (EU or not), which would make the distinction moot.
Answer 3
I work at AAA which issues the International Driver License and it is clearly marked on the front of the IDP "IMPORTANT--This permit in not valid for driving in the United States". Also, a valid US Driver License is required for obtaining the IDP, so there would be no need for one in the US. Additionally, you must travel internationally with your US Driver License because the IDP and your US license work together.
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