Reader’s Question:

I will be leaving for Zimbabwe real soon. Will my Alaska driver’s license and car insurance be honored in that country? If not, where can I get a Zimbabwe car insurance quotation?

Rebecca

Anchorage, AK

Your Alaska driver’s license can no longer be considered valid outside the United States. What you need then in order to drive a car in other foreign countries is an International Driving Permit (IDP). An IDP is honored in over 150 countries, and that includes Zimbabwe. But take note that your International Driving Permit does not replace your Alaska driver’s license. An IDP is also not valid in the country of origin. There are only two organizations that have the authority to give out IDPs to US citizens. One is the American Automobile Touring Alliance and the other is the American Automobile Association.

Regarding your Alaska car insurance, this will not cover you when you go abroad. The first thing you probably need to figure out is whether car insurance is a legal requirement for operating a motor vehicle on Zimbabwe’s public roads. If car insurance isn’t compulsory, but driving is going to be a part of your daily routine there, then purchasing car insurance in that country may be a prudent choice to make. Your biggest chance of getting a Zimbabwe car insurance quotation is by inquiring from major US insurance companies whose scope of business extends to that country. You could also try if there are any Zimbabwe car insurance company websites.

You would probably be either renting a car or using someone else’s vehicle. In the case of rental cars, insurance can be bought from the same rental company. If you’re going to be borrowing somebody else’s car, then what you need is a short-term non-owners policy. As an added precaution, try to learn a little about Zimbabwe’s traffic regulations. You can get some helpful guidelines on driving and car insurance coverage overseas from agencies like the US Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council.

Tags: auto insurance coverage, car insurance, non owners insurance, rental car insurance