Question 1

Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in the US?

Accepted Answer

For short-term visitors, the answer is **mostly no, but check the state**. The US recognizes valid foreign licenses for non-resident visitors in every state, typically for the duration of an authorized stay (usually up to one year). However, the **license must be in English** — if it isn't, an IDP (which is just a multilingual translation) bridges the gap. Four important nuances: 1. Some states (Georgia, for example) require an IDP regardless of license language. 2. Rental companies set their own policies on top of state law — many require an IDP from non-English-license holders even if the state doesn't. 3. The IDP is **not a license** — you must carry it together with your home license. 4. Get the IDP from your home country before you fly. The two State Department-designated US issuers (AAA and the Automobile Touring Alliance) only serve US license holders.

Question 2

I got a parking ticket in a US rental car. What happens next?

Accepted Answer

You pay it directly to the issuing city — and you should pay it before you leave the country if at all possible. Here is the typical sequence: 1. **The ticket is in the car**: pay the city directly. Most US municipalities accept online payments by credit card. 2. **You ignore the ticket and leave**: the city eventually charges the rental company's registered address. The rental company then charges you (using the credit card on file) for **the original fine plus a "ticket processing fee"** — usually $25–50 per ticket. 3. **Multi-year delays**: in some cities, unpaid parking violations attached to a license plate can prevent the rental company from re-registering the vehicle, leading to escalating recoveries that can show up on your credit history if you live in the US. Moving violations (red-light cameras, speed cameras) follow the same path but can also affect your driving record in the home jurisdiction depending on treaty.

Question 3

Can I bring cannabis from a legal US state into Canada (or vice versa)?

Accepted Answer

**No, in either direction**, regardless of legalization on either side. - **Entering Canada**: importing cannabis is a federal offence under the Cannabis Act, with penalties up to 14 years imprisonment. - **Entering the US**: cannabis is a federal Schedule I controlled substance regardless of state law. CBP enforces federal law at every border crossing. Possession at the border can result in seizure, denial of entry for the trip, and a permanent refusal record affecting future US travel. The border is federal in both countries. Provincial / state legalization simply does not apply at customs. Don't risk it — even small amounts have led to multi-year denials of entry for travellers who declared honestly assuming legal protection.

Question 4

Can I bring my Adderall / Vyvanse / ADHD medication into Japan?

Accepted Answer

**No.** Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine, and most amphetamine-based ADHD medications are illegal under Japanese law, even with a foreign prescription. Japan classifies amphetamines as a controlled substance — a foreign prescription is not a defence. What you can do: - For **non-amphetamine alternatives** (e.g. atomoxetine / Strattera, certain dosages of methylphenidate / Concerta), Japan permits import with a **Yakkan Shoumei (薬監証明) import certificate**, applied for in advance via the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare. The application takes about 2–3 weeks. - For amphetamine-based medications, the practical answer is to **not bring them**. Travellers caught with Adderall at Narita have been held for hours and turned around in some cases. - Carry a **doctor's letter** for any medication you do bring. Original prescription containers only. This is the most-overlooked Japan customs rule by Western travellers.

Question 5

Why is the STOP sign in Japan a triangle, not an octagon?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the **inverted red triangle with "止まれ" is a full STOP sign**, with exactly the same legal force as the US octagon. Treating it as a yield is the most common cause of intersection collisions involving foreign drivers in Japan. Why the difference? - Japan adopted the inverted triangle before the 1968 Vienna Convention standardized the octagon for STOP. By the time most signatories switched, Japan already had millions of these signs deployed and chose not to undertake the nationwide replacement. - Japan re-examined this question in the 2010s. They concluded that the cost of swapping every sign would create more confusion for the (much larger) base of local drivers than it would solve for foreign drivers. What to remember: in Japan, **red = stop or prohibition, regardless of shape**. The triangle's shape elsewhere (yield) is a coincidence — Japanese yields are essentially conveyed by markings and 徐行 (slow) signs instead. We have a comparison page at /guides/stop-signs-around-the-world that puts the four major variants side by side.

Question 6

Do I need JAF or AAA membership to rent a car in Japan?

Accepted Answer

JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) is **not required** to rent a car as a foreign visitor. The actual paperwork the rental desk needs is: 1. Your home driving license **plus an International Driving Permit (IDP)** issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. (Japan does **not** accept IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention — most European countries.) 2. Passport. 3. A credit card in your name. JAF membership is useful for: roadside assistance (Japan's equivalent of AAA tow service) and the JAF discount on toll roads / parking. Most major rental companies (Toyota Rent-a-Car, Nissan, Times Car Rental) include 24-hour roadside assistance in the rental price, so JAF is a nice-to-have, not a must. Special note for licenses from non-Geneva-signatory countries (Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan): you cannot rent in Japan with an IDP — you need an **official Japanese translation** of your license, which JAF provides for ~¥4,000 and a few business days.

Question 7

How do tolls work for foreign drivers in South Korea (Hi-pass)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Three options for paying expressway tolls as a foreign driver: 1. **Hi-pass transponder rental from the rental company** — most major Korean rental agencies (KT Kumho, Lotte, SK) include a Hi-pass unit in higher-tier rental classes or rent it for a small daily fee (typically ₩1,000–2,000/day). Tolls are charged to your card automatically. Recommended for any trip beyond Seoul. 2. **Cash / card lanes (TG)** — every toll plaza has a manned lane on the right side. Slow down to 30 km/h on approach. Korean toll attendants accept cash (Korean won) and most major credit cards. 3. **Drive through, pay later** — if you accidentally use a Hi-pass-only lane without a transponder, you have **15 days** to pay at any rest area or via the Korea Expressway Corporation website. After that, the rental company is billed and adds a service fee. For a Seoul→Busan return trip on the Gyeongbu Expressway, total tolls are roughly ₩40,000 (~US$30) round trip in a passenger car.

Question 8

How serious is the fine for speeding in a Korean school zone?

Accepted Answer

Yes, treat school zones in Korea as the **highest-stakes speed limit you will encounter**. Two reasons: 1. **Speed limits drop sharply** — typically to 30 km/h, signposted with prominent yellow-and-red signs and red-painted pavement. Cameras are extremely dense. 2. **민식이법 (the Min-sik Law, 2020)** raised penalties dramatically for school-zone violations involving children. For a fatal crash in a school zone, criminal charges including imprisonment apply — beyond the standard fine. For a foreign driver in a rental: - A typical 30-km/h-zone speed-camera fine in 2024 was around ₩90,000 (~US$70) for 10–20 km/h over. - The fine is sent to the rental company's registered address, which then charges your card with a service fee. - School-zone hours are typically 08:00–20:00; some are 24/7. The signage states active hours; if no plate, assume 24/7. Drop to 30 km/h the moment you see the painted pavement, not when you see the speed-limit sign.

Question 9

Why does Quebec post ARRÊT instead of STOP, and is it legally the same?

Accepted Answer

Yes — **ARRÊT and STOP carry identical legal force**. The shape (red octagon) and colour are the operative signal under MUTCDC; the word is local language only. - Quebec's Charter of the French Language (Bill 101 / Charte de la langue française, 1977) requires public signage to be in French. STOP became ARRÊT. - Federal areas in Quebec (e.g. national parks, federal property) often use bilingual ARRÊT / STOP signs. - A few tiny anglophone-majority municipalities in Quebec post ARRÊT / STOP bilinguals; this varies. - New Brunswick (Canada's only officially bilingual province) generally posts ARRÊT / STOP bilinguals. Legally, they're the same sign. Functionally, the **shape is doing the work** — which is why most countries (and the international Vienna Convention) chose the octagon: drivers don't need to read the word to know what the sign means.

Question 10

Are winter tires legally required to drive in Canada?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the province. Two provinces have legal mandates: - **Quebec**: winter tires are mandatory on all passenger vehicles registered in Quebec from **December 1 to March 15**. The law has historically been interpreted to include rentals operating in Quebec during that window. Most Quebec-based rentals automatically equip winter tires. Out-of-province rentals operated in Quebec are technically required to comply; in practice, enforcement against rental tourists has been inconsistent. - **British Columbia**: winter tires (or chains in some categories) are required on **designated highways** from October 1 to April 30 (until March 31 for some highways). The Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler is included. Look for the white sign with a tire-and-snowflake logo. Elsewhere (Ontario, Alberta, etc.), winter tires are not legally required but strongly recommended. When booking your rental: ask explicitly for winter tires if your itinerary includes Quebec in winter or BC mountain highways. Major rental companies (Enterprise, Budget, Hertz) charge a small daily premium (~CAD$5–10) for winter-tire-equipped vehicles. M+S all-season tires are not the same as proper winter tires (mountain-snowflake symbol).

Q&A

🇺🇸 United States