Heads up for Canadian drivers in Florida

[Lisa Anne Colling]

I will keep you posted. We get there next friday!

[drag n' fly]

As of right now it is the law and a IDP is strongly recommended. Rental agencies were enforcing it when I was there last week.

[greenclan67]

Originally Posted by drag n' fly

As of right now it is the law and a IDP is strongly recommended. Rental agencies were enforcing it when I was there last week.

I guess we are making a rush trip and hour and a half away then today, then start driving after that to Niagara. We had a friend rent from Dollar last week and said they had no problems and they never asked for anything.

[stefanospops]

I guess at this point for all those March Break vacationers (we leave Monday) you have to decide how much risk you are okay with. I called my insurance company (The Personal) and they said that I would be covered without an IDP. I called Avis and they said they would rent to me without an IDP. So to that end I am satisfied and won't get one.

This said, I get the concern. If something happens can people use that as a loophole. I'm not a judge but would think that in this case with all the media around it should something happen that ended up in the courts that the courts would not allow this to be used as an excuse. I can't be sure, but that seems logical to me. So I guess what I am saying is that I am taking my chances!

[Maddysdaddy]

Is it overkill to buy what is essentially insurance on my existing insurance, maybe - but for the minimal cost, it's not worth my having that nagging worry in the back of my mind each time I go behind the wheel when I'm down in FL next month.

My broader concern is that I am sensing a complacency by some on this board about how we think the insurance companies will treat us under this law. If I'm involved in an accident, do I think my Canadian insurer will come thru for me - probably. What sends my spidey sense off the scale is having a US insurer deny coverage/refuse to pay a claim because I was in violation of the law by not having the IDP.

Yes it's a stupid law, and yes the cost of the IDP is likely wasted money, but why would I put my family and my personal finances at risk for the cost of a couple of turkey legs and dole whips. I'm a lawyer, and I didn't even have to think twice about this one - the law is what the law is, at least until the FL legislature comes back later in the spring to amend it.

[Yawny4]

We are at Disney right now. We rented a car from Alamo at WDW and we had no problems. We are from Ontario and did not have the special license. My DH asked if it was an issue and they said "no".

[cpbjgc]

For any Manitobans, I had written to MPI about their position a few days ago. I had no email back, but this was posted on their home page today:

February 28, 2013

Advisory – Manitoba Driver’s Licence Acceptable in the State of Florida

Recently, Manitoba media outlets reported that visitors to Florida required an International Driver’s Permit.

We were able to confirm through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, that a valid Manitoba driver’s licence would be acceptable in the state of Florida. This applies to all drivers, including commercial carriers.

Manitoba Public Insurance will not deny coverage on the sole basis that a Manitoba driver was unauthorized to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Florida due to the absence of an International Drivers’ Permit.

Recently, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) released a statement on their website, www.flhsmv.gov, advising drivers that this new law may violate the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949), an international treaty to which the United States is a signatory. Although no legislative changes can be enacted until July 2013 at the earliest, FLHSMV has elected to defer enforcement of this law until it can be reviewed.



© 2013 Manitoba Public Insurance

Given this info, I won't be picking up an IDP.

[cpbjgc]

- double post -

[Lisa Anne Colling]

Just wanted t give everyone an update. We did get an IDP, however we did not tell the rental car company, Alamo (connected also with Enterprise and National). We got the car on Friday no problem and was not asked for an international license only our Ontario DL. My parents whom live here are reporting that the law has been cancelled and was waiting for a signature that was so soppose to happen this week. Having a great time, but wishing it was alot warmer! I think I prefer the fall! Really busy as well, but has been manageable with good planning!

[Tanooki]

Hi!
Got home yesterday after driving to WDW with our minivan (with Quebec plates) and had absolutely no problem. They will probably force us to get an IDP later on, as ours are in French, but we're glad we didn't make the dash to the CAA office to get ones before we left as it wasn't an issue on the roads at all. Of course, we weren't pulled over for anything so we'll never know if it would've been a problem...

[cey]

Florida is repealing the bill covering the Internation Driver's license for Canadians today. Channel 13 has announced that it will specifically be for Canadians, but did not mention how Quebec licenses would be affected. I will try to post the results of the changes to the legislation as it becomes available today, but I imagine that it will be covered in the Orlando Sentinel tomorrow!

[Toulouse]

Originally Posted by Lisa Anne Colling

Just wanted t give everyone an update. We did get an IDP, however we did not tell the rental car company, Alamo (connected also with Enterprise and National). We got the car on Friday no problem and was not asked for an international license only our Ontario DL. My parents whom live here are reporting that the law has been cancelled and was waiting for a signature that was so soppose to happen this week. Having a great time, but wishing it was alot warmer! I think I prefer the fall! Really busy as well, but has been manageable with good planning!

Sweet Lisa - thanks so much.

We leave on March 28 and I've held off this long, it was really just the principle of the whole thing that was making me mad vs. the $40 (x2 as my husband wants to drive too).

Originally Posted by cey

Florida is repealing the bill covering the Internation Driver's license for Canadians today. Channel 13 has announced that it will specifically be for Canadians, but did not mention how Quebec licenses would be affected. I will try to post the results of the changes to the legislation as it becomes available today, but I imagine that it will be covered in the Orlando Sentinel tomorrow!

Good stuff cey, we'll watch for it!

[sherilaine]

I work in the insurance industry - we were advised that on February 14th 2013, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued a statement announcing that this requirement for an International Driving Permit (IDP) wouldn’t be enforced pending a final determination of whether the amendment violates the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949), an international treaty to which the US is a signatory.

Until that decision is made, automobile insurance will not be affected.

That means if you have a #27 rider or endorsement (Legal Liability for Non Owned Auto) on your personal automobile insurance you do not need to buy additional physical damage insurance from any rental agency - unless you do not want to pay the deductible associated with the physical damage (all perils or collision/comp) you have on your policy.

Also, some credit cards offer protection for damage to rental vehicle up to a specified limit (such as $50,000 or $75,000).

Rental companies want you to buy their physical damage coverage, even if you are covered - why? To pay for THEIR deductible with the premiums they charge.

If in doubt - call your broker - that is what they are there for.

[Sunseeker2012]

We just got back and we had a rental. We were never asked for the idp.

[lizzyb]

Great news! One less thing to worry about.