Welcome to the Aruba Forum

[Glenn]

Hi everybody,

I saw a news item today whereby the state of Florida, will or may require non-U.S. residents to have an International Driving Permit.

My question is; what are Aruba's actual legal requirements for driving for non-residents? Car rental companies there have always accepted my Province of Manitoba Driver's Licence, but if you were ever in an accident or stopped by the police for any reason, would that be sufficient?

Other Caribbean destinations like The Cayman Islands require the IDP.

The Florida announcement just got me to wondering.

I suppose I should search the appropriate Aruba authorities.



Glenn

[JohnT]

Very interesting, Glenn.
Probably only the law-abiding will comply in Florida.
In our 10 years here, there have been numerous reports that driving without a license, driving with license suspended or revoked etc. is a big problem in FL...maybe more so in the largest urban centers.
I haven't thought about an IDL in many years. Bought one for Europe travel...then I decided to not rent a car.
I've been happy that Aruba only requires a valid US license...and I hope it continues that way.
BTW, I had to show my license for the first time in November after a county policeman said I went through a yellow light in school zone when I should have stopped. During the middle of the day, that school zone is 45 mph. I didn't really argue, but said something like stopping was questionable on a short yellow going the legal 45 mph. Anyway, he checked the license and insurance...gave me a warning. Still no moving violations after more than 40 years of driving. Fine would have been something like $258. Yuk!

[JohnT]

Postscript:

This morning's local paper said that the Florida Highway Patrol has decided to declare a hold/moratorium on enforcement of a requirement for an IDL. The redneck legislature will be asked to exempt English-speaking nations that have license information in English (primarily Canada, England, Australia). The article said the CAA/AAA offices were jammed with people wanting an IDL.

Let's hope the good old boys in Tallahassee agree to revise. And maybe they will consider the reasonable ban on cellphone and texting while driving.

In our area, we have many 4-lane and 6-lane streets within the city limits. Impatient drivers who think that are competing on the Daytona International Speedway. Speed limit is usually 50 in these wider streets...which means that speed is actually 65 or higher. Enforcement is now resting with red-light traffic cameras in only selected locations. Better traffic flow as compared to old cities, but dangerous everyday driving.

[Glenn]

Hi John,

Thank you for the the info. Our local CAA was jam-packed with people applying for the IDL.

What we have heard is that in spite of the moratorium, it's better to get the IDL anyway. While the Florida State Patrol will likely respect the moratorium, there are hundreds of individual police jurisdictions one drives through and not all of them may be as aware of it.

This is though, the Aruba bb and as I've said,I hope to definitively find out what I need for there. The provincial driver's licence I have has always been accepted by the car rental companies in Aruba, but the Florida situation got me to wondering what the case would be if you were in an accident or were stopped by the police.

Thanks again John for the info.


Glenn

[JohnT]

You know, Glenn, I have lived through the time when almost everyone said to be careful to exactly obey any signs and limits in the Carolinas and Georgia...especially since we had a license plate that said New York. Speed traps, etc. Damn Yankees! 10 years in FL with Florida licenses and plates but we're still probably suspect across the south. Maybe we even needed an IDL in those previous days.
We used to cross into Canada almost every year when we lived in upstate NY...4 hours from Montreal, about 6 hours from Toronto. I think I remember a time when extra insurance information was needed to cross without question.
Yet I never thought about getting an IDL for Aruba...after reading good information about Aruba on all these various bulletin boards. Maybe Aruba will move toward the popular view to provide more identification...as a check and double-check.