A law was introduced in Florida, USA, on 1 January 2013 requiring all persons who hold a licence issued outside of the US to carry an International Driving Permit along with their national driving licence.

The Governor of Florida has repealed the law requiring all drivers holding a licence issued outside of the USA to hold an International Driving Permit (IDP).

It is therefore no longer a compulsory requirement for UK licence holders to hold an International Driving Permit when visiting the State of Florida .

However, car hire companies and insurance companies can impose their own terms and conditions so we advise that you check with your intended company prior to travel or obtain an IDP as a precautionary measure.

I didn't need one when I drove there in June/July 2013.

Here's the answer - I googled it. Report in the Independent, 2 April 2013.

British holidaymakers can now drive legally in Florida without obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP).

The state Governor, Rick Scott, has signed a bill repealing a law that took effect at the start of this year. It demanded that all foreign motorists should carry the IDP, a document that virtually no other mainstream holiday destination requires.

The episode has been an embarrassment for Florida, which has far more reliance on overseas tourism than any other US state. The demand for IDPs was the unintended consequence of a bill aimed at ensuring that licences were in English. The fact that British - as well as Canadian, Irish and Australian - licences are already in English was apparently overlooked.

While the authorities said the rule would not be enforced, and most car-rental firms did not demand the international permit, any foreign motorist driving without an IDP was technically breaking the law - with possible consequences in the event of an accident or insurance claim.

Kevin McGurgan, UK Consul-General in Florida, welcomed the reversal: “If implemented, this legislation would have unnecessarily affected many of the 1.5 million UK nationals who visit Florida annually.”

Edited by Avant on 29/07/2013 at 21:44