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🚗🌏 海外旅客來美租車：國際駕照可以嗎？一次講清楚 Renting a Car in the U.S. as an International Visitor: Are International Driving Permits Accepted

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conniepurser
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🌏 海外旅客來美租車：國際駕照可以嗎？駕照＆保險一次講清楚 🚗

很多海外家人、朋友來美國旅行時，都會問同一個問題：
「我有國際駕照，可以直接租車、開車嗎？」
尤其是來加州、來舊金山灣區找親友玩的時候，大家最常做的就是租車自駕。

這一篇，我想用華人的角度，把幾件事情講清楚講明白：

  • 什麼是「國際駕照／國際駕駛許可證」（International Driving Permit, IDP）？
  • 在美國租車，到底需不需要國際駕照？
  • 只拿國際駕照、沒有母國駕照，可以租車嗎？（答案：通常不行）
  • 來美國短期開車，要注意哪些保險與責任？

🪪 一、先搞懂：什麼是「國際駕照」（IDP）？

很多人把「國際駕照」當成一張新的駕照，其實比較正確的說法是：
國際駕駛許可證（IDP）只是你母國駕照的「翻譯本」。
它本身不是一張獨立的駕照，不能單獨使用。

重點整理：

  • IDP 是把你的姓名、駕照資訊翻譯成多國語言。
  • 你在國外開車時，一定要同時攜帶母國駕照＋IDP，IDP 只是輔助。
  • 多數國家／租車公司會把它視為一種輔助身分證明＋翻譯文件，不是正式駕照。

所以，如果你只有「國際駕照」，卻沒帶真正的母國駕照來美國，
不論是警察或租車公司，很可能都會說：Sorry，這樣不行。

🚘 二、來美國租車，駕照到底怎樣才算「可以」？

以大多數美國州來說，對於短期旅客（tourist / visitor），
原則大致是：

  • 必須有你母國有效的駕照（不能過期、有照片）。
  • 如果駕照是英文或拉丁字母，多數租車公司可以直接接受。
  • 如果是中文、日文、阿拉伯文等非拉丁文字，租車公司通常會要求同時提供 IDP 或正式翻譯。
  • 你還需要護照、信用卡，做身分與押金驗證。

很重要的一點是：每一州的法律不同，每一家租車公司規定也不同。
所以出發前，一定要先上官網看清楚，或寫信、打電話問清楚。

📍 三、以加州為例：承不承認國際駕照？

這邊用大家最常來的加州做一個重點整理（同時給你概念，其他州可能類似但不完全一樣）：

  • 加州不把國際駕照（IDP）視為「獨立有效的駕照」。
  • 加州承認的是：你在母國取得的有效駕照（只要沒過期）。
  • 如果你的母國駕照不是英文，很建議要帶 IDP 或正式翻譯本，方便警察或租車公司看得懂。

所以總結一句話：
來加州短期開車＝母國有效駕照是主角，IDP 是翻譯助理。

🏢 四、租車公司的規則：為什麼 IDP 常常「被要求」？

很多旅客會以為「美國法律一定要 IDP」，其實更多時候是因為：
租車公司自己的政策。

實務上常見狀況：

  • 租車公司規定：「駕照不是英文 → 要 IDP 或正式翻譯。」
  • 有些公司甚至會寫明：「不能只拿 IDP，一定要同時出示母國駕照。」
  • 某些州（包含加州）分店，還會另外要求護照原件、第二份身分證件等等。

所以，IDP 被要求，大多是因為：
租車公司要自保、要看得懂你的駕照、也要方便與警察或保險公司溝通。

🛡 五、那保險呢？租車公司保險有什麼雷？

多數海外旅客來美國租車時，會遇到幾種常見的保險選項：

  • CDW／LDW（Collision/Loss Damage Waiver）：俗稱「車體險」，撞壞車、被偷時用，通常是租車公司自己的條款，不是「真正的保險公司保單」，而是「免責條款」。
  • Liability（第三方責任險）：你撞到別人車、傷到人，賠對方的部分。這一塊非常重要，因為美國醫療費用與訴訟成本都很高。
  • Personal Accident / Personal Effects：對駕駛本人或車內財物的額外保障。

海外旅客最大的風險是：

  • 以為信用卡附的租車保障「全部都包」，結果只保車、不保對方的人身傷害。
  • 沒有看清楚免責額（deductible）與賠償上限。
  • 以為「租車公司的基本方案就夠」，但實際上第三方責任可能非常低。

所以，來美國租車時，最保險的做法是：

  • 出發前先打電話給你在母國的保險公司，問清楚：「去美國自駕，有沒有任何延伸保障？」
  • 再看信用卡條款：有沒有附帶租車車體保障？適用哪些國家？需不需要刷滿全額？
  • 剩下沒有被cover的第三方責任部分，再評估要不要在租車櫃台加保。

💡 六、給華人家庭的小提醒：不要「借名字」、不要亂省錢

很多家庭來美國旅行，會出現這種狀況：

  • 爸爸有駕照但不敢開；
  • 兒子駕駛技術最好，但駕照年資很短、保險最貴；
  • 於是大家開始想：「要不要借誰的名字來租車、買保險？」

這邊我想用一句我很喜歡的話提醒你：
「愛情可以借，名字不能借。」 😄
車是別人在開、保費是別人在付；
可是出了事，很多法律文件上寫的，都是那個「出名字的人」要先被找上門。

所以，不論是在自己國家還是來美國旅行：
不要為了省一點點保費，去做「保單上看起來不合理」的設計。
一旦出事，可能會走很長、很累、很貴的一條路。

✅ 七、整理一下：來美租車，你可以先檢查這幾件事

  1. 你的母國駕照是不是有效？有沒有過期？
  2. 如果駕照不是英文，出發前先辦好 IDP 或正式翻譯本。
  3. 確認自己要開車的州（例如加州）對外國駕照的基本規定。
  4. 上網查你要租的那一家租車公司，看看它對國際旅客的駕照與 IDP 要求。
  5. 搞清楚：信用卡、母國保險公司、租車公司，各自提供哪些保障。
  6. 不要亂借名字租車／投保，如果合約上寫的是你，你就有可能被先找上門。

你不需要變成什麼法律專家，但至少要知道「自己在簽什麼、在保什麼」。
這樣來美國旅行，自駕才是真的輕鬆又安心。🚗🌈

🌏 Overseas Visitors Renting a Car in the U.S.: Do You Need an International Driving Permit? 🚗

If you have family or friends visiting the U.S., one of the first questions is usually:
“I have an international driver’s license. Can I just rent a car and drive?”
This comes up all the time for visitors to California and the Bay Area.

In this post, I’ll walk through a few key points from a bilingual, immigrant-friendly point of view:

  • What is an International Driving Permit (IDP) really?
  • Do you actually need an IDP to rent and drive in the U.S.?
  • Can you rent a car with only an IDP and no home-country license?
  • What should overseas visitors know about insurance and liability?

🪪 1. What is an International Driving Permit (IDP)?

Many people think of an “international driver’s license” as a brand-new license.
In reality, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is basically an official translation of your home-country license – nothing more.

Key points:

  • The IDP translates your personal and license information into multiple languages.
  • You must carry your original home-country license together with your IDP when driving abroad.
  • Most countries and rental companies treat it as a supporting ID and translation, not a stand-alone license.

So if you show up in the U.S. with “just an IDP” and no valid home-country license,
both the rental counter and the police can very reasonably say:
“Sorry, that’s not enough.”

🚘 2. What do you actually need to rent a car in the U.S.?

For short-term visitors (tourists, business travelers), the general pattern across many states is:

  • You need a valid driver’s license from your home country (not expired, with your photo).
  • If your license is in English or uses Latin letters, many rental companies will accept it directly.
  • If your license uses a non-Latin script (Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, etc.), most rental companies will require an IDP or a certified translation in addition to your license.
  • You’ll also need your passport and a credit card for ID verification and the security deposit.

The tricky part is that each state has its own law, and each rental company has its own policy.
That’s why it’s important to check the website or contact the rental company before you fly.

📍 3. A quick look at California: what’s recognized?

Since many visitors land in California, let’s use it as a simple example:

  • California does not treat the IDP as an independent, valid driver’s license.
  • California does recognize a valid foreign driver’s license from your home country (as long as it hasn’t expired).
  • If your license is not in English, it’s strongly recommended to carry an IDP or official translation so law enforcement and rental staff can read it.

In other words:
For a short visit to California, your foreign license is the main document. The IDP is its translator.

🏢 4. Why do rental companies often “require” an IDP?

Many travelers assume the U.S. law itself requires an IDP.
In reality, quite often it’s the rental company’s internal policy.

In practice, you’ll often see rules like:

  • “If your license is not in English, you must provide an IDP or certified translation.”
  • “You cannot rent a car with only an IDP; you must also present your original license.”
  • Some locations (including parts of California) may ask for a passport and even a second government-issued ID.

So when a rental counter insists on an IDP, it’s usually because:
they need to protect themselves and be sure they understand your license and can defend their decision to rent to you.

🛡 5. What about insurance? Any traps in rental car insurance?

Most overseas renters will be offered a few common types of coverage:

  • CDW/LDW (Collision/Loss Damage Waiver) – “damage waiver” for the rental car itself. This is often a contractual waiver, not a traditional insurance policy.
  • Liability coverage – covers damage or injury you cause to other people or their property. This is extremely important in the U.S. due to high medical and legal costs.
  • Personal accident / personal effects – optional add-ons for injuries to the driver and/or property inside the car.

Common risks for overseas visitors:

  • Thinking a credit card benefit covers “everything” when it actually only covers damage to the rental car, not injuries or damage to others.
  • Not reading the fine print on deductibles and coverage limits.
  • Assuming the “basic package” from the rental desk is always enough – sometimes the default liability limits are quite low.

A safer approach:

  • Before your trip, call your home-country insurer and ask: “Do I have any coverage when I drive in the U.S.?”
  • Check your credit card benefits: do they cover rental cars in the U.S.? Under what conditions?
  • For whatever gap remains (especially liability), consider buying additional coverage at the rental counter or through a reputable third party.

💡 6. A gentle reminder: don’t “borrow” names just to save a little premium

Many families run into this situation:

  • The parents have long driving history but don’t feel confident driving.
  • The teenager or young adult is the best driver but has very little driving history, making insurance more expensive.
  • Someone suggests: “Why not use the parent’s name, let the kid do all the driving?”

My favorite way of saying it is:
“You can lend your heart, but don’t lend your name.” 😄
If the policy and the rental contract are in your name,
then when something goes wrong, you are the first person everyone will look for.

Whether you’re at home or traveling abroad, it’s usually not worth playing games with names and paperwork just to shave off a little premium.

✅ 7. Quick checklist before your overseas trip

  1. Make sure your home-country license is valid and not expired.
  2. If your license is not in English, get an IDP or certified translation before you travel.
  3. Check the driving rules for the state(s) you’ll visit (for example, California).
  4. Read the rental company’s policy for international drivers: do they require an IDP? What documents do they want?
  5. Understand what’s covered by your home insurance, your credit card, and the rental company – and where the gaps are.
  6. Don’t “borrow” names or play tricks with who is listed as the main driver or policyholder.

You don’t have to become a lawyer or an insurance expert.
You just need to know enough to avoid the obvious traps and to make sure you’re really covered.
That way, your U.S. road trip can stay exactly what it’s meant to be: safe, fun, and full of good memories. 🚗🌈