The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has issued a warning to the public, urging them to steer clear potentially fraudulent international driver’s licences.

On January 15, the ministry singled out a Facebook post from October 2023 under the account “IAA International Driving License”, which displayed an image purportedly of an international driving licence and claimed that obtaining one does not require training or taking exams.

The post further claimed that holding such an “international driving licence”, whether it’s Cambodian or foreign, signifies completing training and passing a standardised driving test.

It was not immediately clear if the Facebook account in question is affiliated with the International Automobile Association (IAA), a US-based private company which, according to its official website, only translates and confirms existing driving licences that do not replace state-issued ones.

The ministry reminded people to only engage with the ministry’s official public services at designated locations. The advisory underscored the potential risks of using informal online services, noting the likelihood of financial losses, wasted time and the acquisition of worthless fraudulent documents from unscrupulous sources.

The ministry referred the public to its Proclamation No 032, which outlines the procedure for issuing International Driving Permits (IDP).

Dated January 15, 2020, it aligns with the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. This international treaty champions the development and safety of international road traffic by establishing uniform rules.

As per the convention, an IDP is a standardised document that translates a national driving licence into several languages, allowing holders to drive in more than 100 signatory countries.

The IDP is not a standalone licence but serves as a complement to a valid national driving licence when travelling abroad. It retains its validity for one year from the date of issuance.