Stopped by Police Abroad: What to Show

At a roadside check, an officer typically wants to confirm that you are licensed to drive, that you are who you say you are, and that the vehicle is properly registered and insured. For a foreign driver that usually means your original national licence, your IDP, your passport or national ID, and the rental agreement or vehicle registration along with proof of insurance.

Carry these together in the glovebox or a document wallet so you are not fumbling through bags during a stop. An IDP is only valid when shown alongside the national licence it translates, so never hand over the IDP on its own and leave your real licence at the hotel.

Pull over fully, switch off the engine, turn on the interior light if it is dark, and keep your hands visible on the wheel until the officer approaches. Lower your window and wait to be asked before reaching for documents, then tell the officer where they are before retrieving them.

Speak slowly and politely. If there is a language barrier, your IDP helps because it presents your licence details in multiple languages on a standard layout that police in member countries recognise. A calm, cooperative manner almost always makes a routine check shorter and smoother.

An IDP does not grant any new driving rights and does not replace your licence; it is a recognised translation that sits under the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna conventions. Where local law expects foreign drivers to carry one, not having it can turn a quick check into a fine or a longer dispute, even if your home licence is perfectly valid.

Because the permit standardises your name, licence number, categories and validity into a format an officer can read, it removes guesswork. That is the single biggest reason to keep it with you whenever you drive in a country that recognises or requires it.

If you are asked to pay a fine, ask for an official receipt and, where possible, request to pay through formal channels rather than handing over cash on the spot. Genuine penalties are documented; pressure to pay an undocumented cash amount is a warning sign worth noting.

If you do not understand what is being asked, stay polite and ask the officer to write it down or call a colleague who speaks your language. Keep copies of your documents stored separately or in the cloud so that even a lost or confiscated original does not leave you stranded.