Title
Apostille Korea reissues international driving permits lost or stolen abroad Losing an international driving permit after booking a rental car leaves the vehicle unusable and disrupts an entire trip.
- Related countries
- 중국
Content
Apostille Korea has said it offers a reissuance service for travellers who lose an international driving permit or have one stolen while abroad. The permit can only be applied for through issuing bodies inside Korea, which makes handling it in person from overseas difficult. The company said it has arranged the process so that the time needed for issuance is reduced and the permit reaches the applicant where they are.
- The international driving permit is valid for one year and is recognised in countries party to the relevant international convention.
- If the permit is lost or stolen abroad, the rental car already booked cannot be used.
- Applying in person requires visiting a driving licence examination centre or a police civil affairs office in Korea, which is impractical for those overseas.
- Using a proxy involves powers of attorney, unfamiliar administrative steps and the risk of the original being lost in international shipping.
Peak summer rentals and the documents they require
Demand at Korean-run rental car firms in Hawaii has surged with the peak summer season. Operators say more customers are renting for longer periods to travel long distances with family and relatives, and advise booking at least one to two weeks in advance. They also note that some customers run into trouble because they do not bring the international driving permit and other documents needed to rent a car abroad. The international driving permit is an internationally accepted driving document valid for one year and recognised in any country that follows the relevant international convention. Obtaining one in Korea beforehand takes only a visit to a police station or another issuing body with a small set of documents, and it can be issued the same day. The problem arises when the permit is lost or stolen after a rental car has been booked, or while driving. In that situation the vehicle cannot be used and a replacement permit has to be applied for.
Two ways to apply for a replacement from abroad
There are two routes to a replacement: applying in person or applying through a proxy. Applying in person means filing at a driving licence examination centre or the civil affairs office of a nearby police station inside Korea. Given that most permit holders are abroad on holiday or business, that route is rarely a realistic choice. Many therefore turn to a proxy, but this is not simple either. Drawing up a power of attorney for the proxy, navigating unfamiliar administrative steps and the risk of the original document going missing in international shipping are difficulties a private individual struggles to manage, and additional days have to be accepted. Apostille Korea said it handles these steps on the applicant's behalf, keeping issuance time to a minimum and building a process that delivers the permit at a pace comparable to applying inside Korea.
Frequently asked questions
If the permit is lost abroad, can the rental car still be used?
No. Without the permit the booked vehicle cannot be used, so a replacement must be applied for.
Can a replacement be applied for directly from abroad?
Applications are filed through a driving licence examination centre or a nearby police civil affairs office in Korea. Since visiting in person is not possible from overseas, a proxy or an agency service is used instead.
What should be considered when asking an acquaintance to apply as proxy?
The proxy needs a power of attorney and familiarity with the administrative steps, and the original document can be lost in international shipping. Extra days should be expected.
Source: QUEEN · 2017-07-26