Written Evidence – The AA (TRA0026)
Brexit Implications for private motoring
The AA is the UK’s largest motoring organisation providing services for over 13 million members and customers.
An International Driving Permit is a legally recognized translation of the holder’s national driving licence into several languages. It allows motorists to drive legally outside their own country when their domestic driving permit is not enough.
The right to issue International Driving Permits (IDPs), as per international road traffic conventions, lies in national driving licence agencies, but motoring organizations may also be granted the right to issue these documents. Like many mobility clubs around the world, the AA has been issuing International Driving Permits for many decades.
We issue approximately 110,000 per year via a postal service and in conjunction with the Post Office.
Mutual recognition of driving licences within the EU means that British drivers currently are not required to carry an IDP when driving in other EU countries.
During August and September 2018, the UK government published a series of sector-specific technical notices setting out information to allow businesses and citizens to understand what they would need to do in a ‘no deal’ scenario.
EU licence holders driving in the UK
Arrangements for EU licence holders who are visiting or living in the UK would not change after exit day. The UK does not require visiting motorists, for example, those coming to the UK on holiday or who wish to drive on business, to hold a separate IDP to guarantee the recognition of their driving licence.
UK licence holders driving in the EU
If there is ‘no deal’ then mutual recognition of driving licences between the UK and EU may end.
This would mean that UK drivers wishing to drive in Europe after 29 March 2019 would need to apply for and carry an International Driving Permit (IDP).
The Government has estimated that up to 7 million IDPs may be required in the first year if there is 'no deal'.
In March 2018 the Secretary of State for Transport wrote to the AA confirming that we will not be permitted to issue IDPs after 31 January 2019:
“My officials have explained that due to changes to government procurement rules since your authority to issue IDPs many decades ago, we are unable to automatically extend the current arrangements to also include 1968 formats…… I have concluded that government must assume sole authority to issue all formats of IDP documents.”
The Government has indicated that, from 1 February 2019, the only way to obtain an IDP is over the counter at selected Post Offices. An online/postal service will not be offered.
Drivers without the correct IDP may be turned away at the border or face other enforcement action, for example, fines following a No Deal Brexit.
Without mutual recognition of driving licences, an IDP may also be needed to hire a vehicle when you are abroad.
In fact, it is possible, depending on where they are driving, that UK drivers may have to carry two separate IDPs as different member states have ratified different international road traffic conventions:
So that for example a driver heading to Spain via France would have to apply for, pay for and carry both a 1968 and a 1949 convention IDP.
As part of its preparation for Brexit the UK has had to ratify the 1968 Vienna Convention so that 1968 Convention IDPs can be issued.
To add further to the complexity, each type of IDP is valid for a different period.
In its July 2018 report the National Audit Office observed that:
the International Driving Permits (IDPs) project had not completed a business case or agreed detailed delivery plans. The Department has asked the Post Office to submit detailed delivery plans, including for the training of staff, so as to be ready to issue IDPs by the end of January 2019.
Currently 89 post office branches issue around 100,000 IDPs annually.
The Department estimates that this may increase to 4,500 post offices issuing anywhere between 100,000 and 7 million IDPs in the first year should no deal be agreed with the EU.
In July 2018, the Department reported to us that it regarded the project as deliverable.
With no deal, access to the Green Card-free circulation area would cease. This would mean that UK motorists would need to carry a Green Card as proof of third party motor insurance cover when driving in the EU, EEA, Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland.
If the UK does not have access to the Green Card-free circulation area on exit day, we expect EEA motorists would need to carry a Green Card as proof of third party motor insurance cover if they wish to travel to the UK with their vehicle. Without proof of third party motor insurance cover, visitors would not be permitted to drive in the UK.
It is unclear at the moment whether private motorists would be able to print out a green card at home or whether they would be required to have a formal paper copy from their insurance company.
Hopefully an agreement can be reached that continues mutual recognition of driving licences, but if this is not the case, drivers will face further red tape and expense.
In October 2018 (20,637 respondents) we asked our AA-Populus motoring panel about the extent to which they were aware that they might have to carry an IDP to drive in Europe and how they felt this might affect driving in Europe.
Pet passports: The AA is already getting questions for concerned UK citizens wanting to take their pets abroad after Brexit.
Operation stack: Other concerns that no doubt will have been raised by the freight organisations (FTA, RHA) are around what effects delays at the ports may have on the road network and in particular the M20, M26 and local roads.
Tourism: There is a general concern that the uncertainty around Brexit and motoring may well lead to a fall in tourism on both sides of the channel. In our October AA-Populus motoring panel survey nearly half (48%) said that they expect the number of UK drivers going to Europe to reduce if an IDP/Green card is required.