Hi,
I am contemplating renting a car from Zagreb (Croatia) airport, driving into Bosnia and returning it back to Zagreb a week later. My question is about the UK driving license.
Is it valid in Bosnia? I have always thought it was international but someone else has put doubt in my mind. The Bosnian border guards are meticulous, pedantic and gagging for any excuse to find fault at the best of times.
The car hire company allows cross border rental for a fee so that's appears not to be an issue. My full driving license is the old paper type.
Many thanks,
Steve
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Re assure yourself and call the hire company.
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tinyurl.com/2q3w84
International Driving Permit 'recommended'
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 06/02/2008 at 11:22
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Thanks Armitage. That's helps. So recommended probably means needed to act as an insurance against any complications. Trouble is they say apply 3 months prior. I'm going next Thurday (doh).
Pink fluffy dices.
:)
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Hi Andy,
I thought about that but then the car rental company is one of those online 'choose your country' ones that you can deal directly with the office in a given country.
What worries me is Bosnian border requiring some sort of payment (think back pocket) to let us continue.
S
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Probanly expect that anyway irrespective of your license.
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I thought about that but then the car rental company is one of those online 'choose your country' ones that you can deal directly with the office in a given country.
Apologies. Should read "CAN'T deal directly with the office in a given country"
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In the 'good old days' one could turn up at an AA office with a passport photo and something stupid like £2 and get an IDP on the spot. Are there AA offices anymore?
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"What worries me is Bosnian border requiring some sort of payment (think back pocket) to let us continue."
They'll probably just leave you alone. My experience of Eastern European borders in a UK car is they wave you on after a quick glance at your passport. They won't speak English.
Take all your driving documents though and update your license. Travel on the assumption that they will take your car off you if your documentation is incomplete should the local plod stop you for any reason.
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Thanks BBD.
The car will be Croatian registered with Brits in it. Documents will be anything the car hire company provide plus my paper license (will they know any different?) and now an IDP.
I have done this trip on their buses before. Guards are extremely miserable and spend what seems a lifetime looking at your passport. Only once have I had any sort of friendly confrontation and that was only because he insisted I must be related to Pierce Brosnan as my surname is Pearce. He had decided that this was the case and I gave up trying to convince otherwise. I guess he went home proudly stating to his family that he met a relative of James Bond!
I'll make sure as much documentation as possible is available.
One another OT point I just wanted to say having been a bit of a BR lurker I've particularly enjoyed your often entertaining posts for quite some time. Beer to your good health.
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"Beer to your good health."
Cheers, if you get lost, head North - I'll be in the Hotel Sheraton bar, Warsaw. Short hair, Union Jack T-shirt.
I met Pierce Brosnan and he has very thin wrists...
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>>My full driving license is the old paper type.
If you are going to drive anywhere outside the UK, you really need to dump that pretty sharpish and get a photo ID one.
Re "local on the spot charges" (border guards bribes) I would have though some local currency in your wallet would have been advisable. US dollar bills used to be good around the world.
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Armitage, I think it's now done at the post office. I may have misread the info about a three month wait. In my haste I think it means you can apply for it no earlier than 3 months prior. I'll take a trip down to the local PO (if it's still there!) and ask.
All seems a bit pointless really. For a form & a fee I can drive in Bosnia. Will said form & fee mean my I'm safe enough to be in charge of a vehicle there and without F & F I could be wreckless? Hmm.
Altea, you are of course correct. The state of my paper one shows it's 26 years of age. I just like the look of my now expired handwritten speeding fines (2 of). It's got history and reminds me of the first time I ever saw a speed radar gun from the wrong end.
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Thanks EA - that info may well be of use to the BR!
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You won't be asked for it at the border. You never are. Border guards are just exactly that. Traffic cops are traffic cops.
And if you stick to the speed limit you won't be asked for it after the border either...
That said, your International permit is presumably good to carry.
Edited by Mapmaker on 06/02/2008 at 14:54
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Hi There
I have lived in Bosnia for 9 years and driving here on a British Driving License, you should not have any issues with Customs controls by Croatian or Bosnian Officers, check the vehicle you are hiring that it has the EU pack in the boot for safety, ie warning triangle, tyre changing equip, full set of spare light bulbs, first Aid kit, fire extingusher, high visability vest are all mandatory, Police spot checks are also normal in Croatia and Bosnia, side lights and low beam are on at all times in both countries, like any country if you break the law you pay a receipt will be given.
Do not worry about Bosnia it is a fantastic country and has an unjust reputation, hope you haver a great visit look at ww.visit-bosniaherzegovina.com for travel and accommodation info.
Come to Sarajevo old city and have a ball.
HG
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Hi HG,
Thanks for all that info I have been to Bosna before & you're right - it is great but I have never driven there.
Thanks for all the useful information. I'll print it off & show the wife - might calm her down a bit :)
Steve
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