Motorists label Post Office a ‘shambles’ after shortage of International Driving Permits left customers queuing for up to two hours amid fears of a no deal Brexit
- Post Offices across the country ran out of International Driving Permits
- The permits are necessary for driving in Europe after April 12 in case of no deal
- Motorists who thought today was a cut off flocked to shops who then ran out
- Customers were forced to queue for up to two hours while staff processed IDPs
Drivers ‘queued out the door’ as Post Offices ran out of International Driving Permits on what was supposed to be the last chance to apply for one before Brexit.
The Post Office was blasted for being unprepared for a deluge of International Driving Permit applicants with stores around the country running out.
Concerned motorists thought March 29 was the deadline to get their IDPs before a no deal Brexit and joined queues for their permits.
Onjali Rauf needed an IDP to continue delivering aid to refugees in the EU but was forced to queue for two hours
Without a £5.50 permit people with a British driving Licence cannot drive in European countries from April 12 in the case of a no deal Brexit.
And despite Brexit not going ahead today as previously planned panicked drivers rushed to their local post offices to get a permit.
Some customers were forced to queue for more than two hours and others joined queues that went out the door.
Andy Plested, a motorist, told ITV: ‘The whole thing is a mess, a shambles, a worry. I am sure I am not the only person in this situation.’
Others took to Twitter to express their surprise at Post Offices running out of the permits despite the level of demand.
Phil Rogers tweeted: ‘Just got an international driving permit 1949 because this Brexit is a shambles.
‘Lady at post office were saying queues out the door yesterday and that everything is gone but the 1949 license. People want to go to Europe. They don’t want this mess.’
Four types of permits are available depending on which country drivers are travelling through.
Drivers will need a 1926 permit to drive in Liechtenstein, 1949 permit to drive in Spain, Iceland, Malta and Cyprus or a 1968 permit to drive in all other EU countries, plus Norway and Switzerland
And if they are travelling through more than one country they need more than one permit.
Drivers will need a 1926 permit to drive in Liechtenstein, 1949 permit to drive in Spain, Iceland, Malta and Cyprus or a 1968 permit to drive in all other EU countries, plus Norway and Switzerland.
And if they’re driving outside of the EU they need a new International Driving Permit, which supersedes the old version.
Colin Boswell tried to get an IDP at a post office in Ealing Broadway but they had sold out.
He was told he could go to Slough or Heathrow where an IDP might be available.
He tweeted: ‘Just been to the Post Office at Ealing Broadway to get an International Driving Permit.
‘Guess what! They have run out. You could try Slough or Heathrow I was told. But we are driving not going by air. So much for a #nodealnoproblem. You couldn’t make it up.’
Colin Boswell tried to get an IDP at a post office in Ealing Broadway but they had sold out. He was told he could go to Slough or Heathrow where an IDP might be available
And Onjali Rauf needed an IDP to continue delivering aid to refugees in the EU but was forced to queue for two hours.
She tweeted: ‘Dear @PostOffice staff dealing with the chaos of #Brexit #IDP today, thank you for staying calm & not quitting your jobs! In the 2 hours I was queuing(so I can go on delivering aid to #refugees in the #EU)I witnessed 2 near-fights & utter confusion. Congrats @UKParliament #leavers.’
The Post Office blamed a miscommunication for the high demand as many motorists mistakenly thought today was a cut off for applying for IDPs.
More IDPs are being delivered to Post Offices over the weekend with more expected to arrive by Tuesday, April 2.
A spokeswoman said: ‘All post offices should have stock but there may be branches experiencing higher demand. That’s because some people think there’s a cut off date today which there isn’t.
‘There are 2,500 Post Office branches across the UK providing International Driving Permits (IDPs). Some of these branches have seen high demand this week.
‘We’d like to apologise to any customers who have been unable to purchase an International Driving Permit at their chosen branch.
‘We have plenty of supplies of IDPs and we have been providing branches with extra stock this week. Many will have received new supplies today and the remainder will receive this by 2 April.’