In which countries can you drive with an Indian driving license?
Auto Desk, New Delhi. The real joy of traveling abroad comes when you drive yourself and go out to see new places. When you go on a road trip by driving your own car, you unknowingly explore many wonderful places. Keeping this in view, here we are telling you in which countries you can drive on an Indian driving license?
Countries that accept Indian driving license
You can drive in the United Kingdom on an Indian driving license. Here you can drive for one year on an Indian driving license. This applies throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The only condition is that you will have to drive only the vehicle which is permitted in your driving license.
If your Indian license is in English (or an English translation), you can drive in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. An Indian license permits you to drive in the Northern Territory for only three months.
There are many wonderful places to visit in New Zealand. Here you can drive a vehicle for one year on an Indian driving license. For this, your age should be at least 21 years. Here, to drive, you must have a license in English or a valid translation.
You can drive in Singapore for one year on an Indian driving license. Your license must be in English or you must have an official translation. After one year it becomes necessary to obtain a Singapore license. The minimum age for driving license here is 18 years.
Here tourists or valid visa holders can drive on Indian license for one year. After this or after becoming a resident, license conversion or international driving permit may be required.
Also read – Why do cars drive on the left in India? Why do most countries in the world drive on the right side?
If you have an Indian driving license and it is in English, you can easily drive in Malaysia. If your license is in another language, you will need to have it translated into English or Malay. This translation should be certified through the Indian Embassy or relevant authorities.
You can drive in South Africa on an Indian driving license. For this, your license should be in English and have your photo on it. Some car rental companies may ask for an International Driving Permit. Additionally, the process becomes easier by obtaining a license validity certificate from the Indian Embassy, which is usually available within five days.
You can drive in Germany for six months on an Indian driving license. Your license must be in English or German. You are not required to have an International Driving Permit, but it may prove beneficial to have it with you.
There are many wonderful places to visit here. If you drive here, you will get to see spectacular views every few distances. You can drive in Switzerland with an Indian license for one year. If you do not have an International Driving Permit, you will need to carry an official translation of your license in English, French, German or Italian.
You can drive in Sweden with your Indian driving license for up to one year. Here the driving license is valid only if it is in English, Swedish, German, French or Norwegian. Here it is very important for you to follow Swedish traffic rules, which are quite different from India. Here, priority is given to pedestrians and cyclists.
If you are planning to visit France, then Indian license can work for you there. If your license is not in French, you may need a French translation or an international driving permit. This rule is good for short stays, but if you are planning to stay in France for a long time, then here you can drive on an Indian license only for one year.
Indian citizens can drive their own vehicles in Bhutan. For this, Rs 4,500 will have to be paid daily, along with vehicle registration and entry in the police system is necessary. The age of the vehicle should not be more than 10 years and only the registered owner of the vehicle can drive.
You can drive in Nepal with your Indian vehicle with an Indian license. However, before going to the border you will have to obtain Bhansar and traffic permission. If you're driving a rented car, you may often need to show an International Driving Permit or local license. Here too, like in India, driving is done on the left.
International driving license with Indian license is mandatory for driving in Bangladesh. This permit is usually valid for one year and is required to be carried with the Indian license at all times.
Tourists traveling to Russia are required to carry an International Driving Permit with English translation along with their Indian license. If you plan to live or work in Russia for a long period of time, it is mandatory for you to obtain a Russian driving license.
It is absolutely possible to undertake a road trip abroad with an Indian driving license, if you set out with the correct information and documents. It is just important that you understand the country's traffic rules, driving directions and rental car conditions in advance. With this you will be able to enjoy your journey without any worries.
Also read – How to get an International Driving License to drive abroad? See complete information here