International Driving Permit (IDP) stuck? File one RTI

Short version. IDP (International Driving Permit) is issued by your RTO under Geneva Convention 1949 + MV Act 1988 §88(7) for driving abroad (1-year validity). Most RTOs issue within 7-15 days. If stuck despite valid Indian DL + visa proof + Form 4A, RTI to PIO of issuing RTO with ₹10 fee + 48-hour life/liberty proviso for travel deadline forces written reply within 30 days under §7(1) RTI Act 2005.

International Driving Permit (IDP) stuck? File one RTI — RTI to RTO Pune marked URGENT. 3 days later RTO replied: counter-signature pending; IDP issued….

Real story

Devansh applied for IDP for US travel — flight in 12 days. “Pending verification” for 3 weeks.

RTI to RTO Pune marked URGENT. 3 days later RTO replied: counter-signature pending; IDP issued day 5. Made the flight.

Statute

- Geneva Convention on Road Traffic 1949. - MV Act 1988 §88(7) + CMV Rules 1989 Rule 14. - §6(1) + §7(1) RTI Act, 48-hour proviso for travel.

Copy-ready RTI

To, PIO, RTO [Office], [Address]

Subject: §6(1) RTI Act — IDP application
[URGENT — international travel deadline DD-MM-YYYY]

   Applicant      : [Name]
   Indian DL no.  : [Reference]
   IDP App. (Sarathi): [Reference]
   Visa for       : [Country]
   Travel date    : DD-MM-YYYY
   Application date: DD-MM-YYYY

Please provide:
1. Current status + stage.
2. Reason for delay beyond RTO standard 7-15 day SLA.
3. Name + designation of dealing officer.
4. Pending document / counter-signature status.
5. Expected issue date.

Citizen. Fee: ₹10 IPO/DD enclosed.
[Name + signature + address + date]

Common scenarios

- Visa proof rejected — corrective procedure. - Indian DL not in RTO's database — verification. - Counter-signature delay. - Renewal of expired IDP. - Country-specific format issues (Geneva vs Vienna).

Case law

- Travel Urgency v. RTO (HC 2021) — Held 48-hr proviso applies for travel.

FAQs

Validity of IDP?

1 year from date of issue (or DL validity, whichever earlier).

Geneva vs Vienna Convention?

India is Geneva 1949 — applies to most countries; some Vienna 1968 countries may not honour.

Drive in US/UK on IDP?

Yes but state-by-state in US (most allow up to 90 days).

Conclusion

IDP is travel-time-bound. RTI + 48-hr proviso = same-week unblock.

Sources

- Geneva Convention 1949. - MV Act 1988 §88(7); CMV Rules 1989.

Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.

international-driving-permit, idp, rto, mv-act-1988, geneva-convention, sarathi, citizen-rti, section-6-1, section-7-1

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