At the top of the screen on this forum there is usually an advertisement for International Driver's Licenses. Since we all know (or should know) that an International Driving Permit (IDP) can only be issued by an authorized agency in the state where the national driver's license was issued...well...are the forum members really being served by this kind of ad?

This is a Google add so there is no local control. But from my reading of the advertisment they may well be legal and issued by the relevent authorities - they make the profit in the amount they charge. They say upfront you require a valid lisence and that they can not issue for all locations. I suspect that they are just acting as your agent.

At the top of the screen on this forum there is usually an advertisement for International Driver's Licenses. Since we all know (or should know) that an International Driving Permit (IDP) can only be issued by an authorized agency in the state where the national driver's license was issued...well...are the forum members really being served by this kind of ad?

The Geneva convention on IDPs is quite specific on this point. The only 'agent' who can issue a IDP is the one appointed by the state that issued the regular driving licence. In the case of the various states in the USA it is AAA.

At the top of the screen on this forum there is usually an advertisement for International Driver's Licenses. Since we all know (or should know) that an International Driving Permit (IDP) can only be issued by an authorized agency in the state where the national driver's license was issued...well...are the forum members really being served by this kind of ad?

The Geneva convention on IDPs is quite specific on this point. The only 'agent' who can issue a IDP is the one appointed by the state that issued the regular driving licence. In the case of the various states in the USA it is AAA.

as lop posted, thaivisa has no control over the ads accepted and displayed by google.

contact them and let us know what you find out if possible

http://www.international-license.com/index.asp

$99 plus shipping? What a bargain for the convenience.

I, on the other hand, had to drive all the way down to the local AAA office, wait 5 mintues for my name to be called, have my picture taken and wait 5 mintutes for the pictures to develop and for her to fill in the permit. They charged me $16. $8 for the IDP and $8 for the pictures.

It's probably legitimate, but they're charging a lot of money to mail the application in for you. In the US, you can download the form from AAA and mail it yourself.

AAA Permit Webpage