Is an IDP needed in Georgia for an EU citizen?
 

Hi!
Being an EU citizen (Greek) and obtaining a driving permit of the latest EU standards (plastic card), I plan a motorcycle trip to Georgia, through Turkey, in the coming August. Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP)?

You need an IDP for Georgia and Turkey - specifically the 1968 version.

There is a list here of the countries that need them and which one you need. Please note that this is for UK citizens - I assume that citizens of other countries have the same needs.

Interestingly that link says that you do NOT need an IDP in Georgia if you are staying less than 90 days. :)

https://www.enterprise.ge/web/learn-more for example says that an IDP is only required for US citizens.

I suspect an EU license would be accepted anywhere in Georgia. Even though Greece has its own alphabet, the EU-standard license is doubled in Latin, so should be fine.

I saw that too but the 90 day bit is not there for Turkey so it will be needed whatever the length of the trip. I wish I had known this before I went to Turkey a few years ago and hired a car - not that it stopped my getting the car nor was I stopped by police - but it would be a good excuse for someone to play silly buggers with me.

An IDP is cheap and good to have in case you run into a police checkpoint where they either enforce the rules (if applicable) or don't know what they are. We always travel with IDPs. Not often needed, but can get you out of trouble on occasion.

I'd say if you're at home and you can get one, get it. It's cheap enough and as Alan says, it's one less thing to worry about if you're checked. However if you're on the road you can't get one in which case don't worry about it. Most police don't care. I was stopped by police for routine checks 4 times last month in Turkey, not one even asked for my licence - they just looked the foreign plate, smiled and waved me on.

Good advice from Tomkat - worth checking even if you are away from your home country, we get ours by mail.