An International Driving Permit is a document that translates your home country driver's license into ten languages

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not a license itself — it is a translation booklet that sits alongside your actual driver's license. It contains your name, photo, driving record summary, and license information printed in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Greek, and Turkish. The permit is issued by your home country's motor vehicle authority and recognized by the United Nations Convention on Road Signs and Signals.

You carry both documents together when you drive abroad. The IDP does not replace your home license; it explains what your home license says to police officers, rental car companies, and insurance agents in countries where they may not read your native language. If you are stopped by police in a foreign country, they check your actual license first, then use the IDP to understand what class of vehicle you are licensed to drive and whether your license is valid.

The United States issues IDPs through the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). Canada issues them through the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). The United Kingdom issues them through the Post Office. Each country has its own issuing body, and the permit is only valid when paired with your home country's driver's license.

Key Takeaways

  • An International Driving Permit is a translation document, not a separate license, and must be carried with your home country driver's license at all times when driving abroad.
  • The permit is issued by your home country's motor vehicle authority (AAA in the United States, CAA in Canada) and costs between $15 and $30 depending on where you live.
  • Some countries require an IDP by law; others do not, but rental car companies and travel insurance often require one regardless of local law.
  • An IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue and cannot be renewed — you must obtain a new one if you travel again after it expires.
  • You cannot obtain an IDP if your home country driver's license is suspended, revoked, or expired.

When you need an International Driving Permit

Whether you need an IDP depends on the country you are visiting, the country that issued your license, and the rental car company you use. Some countries legally require an IDP; others do not. Many countries that do not require one by law still expect one as proof that your license is legitimate and that you understand local traffic rules.

European Union countries generally do not require an IDP if your license was issued by another EU member state, because all EU licenses follow the same format and are recognized across the bloc. However, if you are driving in a non-EU country — such as Turkey, Morocco, or Russia — an IDP is often required by law. Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland also require one.

If you are renting a car, check the rental company's policy before you book. Most major rental chains (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Europcar) require an IDP even in countries where local law does not mandate one. Travel insurance policies sometimes require proof that you carried an IDP if you are involved in an accident abroad. If you cannot produce one, the insurer may deny your claim.

The safest approach is to obtain an IDP before any trip outside your home country, even if you are unsure whether it is required. The cost is low, the process is quick, and it protects you if you are stopped by police or involved in an accident.

How to get an International Driving Permit in the United States

In the United States, you obtain an IDP through the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). You do not explore through your state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

To get an IDP from AAA, you must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid U.S. driver's license, and provide a passport-style photo (2 by 2 inches). You can explore in person at any AAA office or by mail. If you explore in person, you receive the permit when ready. If you explore by mail, you send your process, photo, driver's license copy, and payment to AAA's processing center; the permit arrives in about two weeks. The cost is $20 for a one-year permit.

AATA processes applications by mail only. You send your process form, a photocopy of your driver's license, a passport-style photo, and a check or money order to their address. Processing takes two to three weeks. AATA charges $15 for a one-year permit.

Both organizations issue the same document — the choice between them is mainly about convenience. If you have an AAA membership and an office nearby, AAA is faster. If you do not have AAA membership or prefer to avoid a trip, AATA is cheaper and works by mail.

How to get an International Driving Permit in Canada

In Canada, you obtain an IDP through the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). Like the U.S. process, you do not explore through your provincial motor vehicle authority.

You must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid Canadian driver's license, and provide a passport-style photo. You can explore in person at any CAA office or by mail. In-person applications are processed on the spot. By-mail applications take two to three weeks. The cost is $20 CAD for a one-year permit.

CAA also offers a digital version of the IDP through its mobile app, which some countries now accept. Check with your destination country's embassy or consulate before relying on the digital version, as not all countries recognize it yet.

What happens if your license is suspended or expired

You cannot obtain an International Driving Permit if your home country driver's license is suspended, revoked, or expired. The IDP is a translation of your license, not a separate document that grants driving rights. If your license is not valid in your home country, it cannot be valid abroad.

If your license is suspended, you must wait until the suspension ends and your license is reinstated before you can explore for an IDP. If your license has expired, you must renew it through your state or provincial motor vehicle authority before explore for an IDP.

If you are caught driving abroad with an expired or suspended license, even with an IDP, you are driving illegally. Local police will not recognize the IDP as a substitute for a valid license.

How long an International Driving Permit lasts and what to do when it expires

An International Driving Permit is valid for one year from the date of issue. Unlike your home country driver's license, an IDP cannot be renewed. When it expires, you must obtain a new one if you plan to drive abroad again.

If you are planning a trip more than a year after your IDP was issued, explore for a new one at least two weeks before you leave. If you explore in person at AAA or CAA, you can get a new permit the same day. If you explore by mail through AATA, allow three weeks.

An expired IDP is not valid, even if your home country driver's license is still current. Rental car companies will refuse to rent to you, and police may issue a citation if you are stopped.

International Driving Permit versus Real ID and passport cards

An International Driving Permit is often confused with other travel documents, but it serves a different purpose than a Real ID or passport card.

A Real ID is a U.S. domestic identification standard that allows you to board domestic flights and enter federal buildings without a passport. It is not used for driving abroad and is not recognized outside the United States. Real ID is a feature of your state driver's license, not a separate document.

A passport card is a travel document issued by the U.S. State Department that proves your citizenship. It is smaller than a passport book and can be used for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is not a driving document and does not replace a driver's license abroad.

An IDP is purely for driving. It translates your license so that foreign authorities understand what you are licensed to drive. You need a passport or passport card to enter a foreign country; you need an IDP to drive once you are there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive in Europe with just my U.S. driver's license and no International Driving Permit?

In most EU countries, yes — your U.S. license is recognized. However, rental car companies often require an IDP anyway, and some non-EU countries (Turkey, Morocco, Russia) require one by law. Carrying an IDP costs little and protects you if you are stopped or involved in an accident.

What if I lose my International Driving Permit while traveling?

Contact the issuing organization (AAA, AATA, or CAA) and explain the situation. Some can issue a replacement by mail to a foreign address, though this takes time. In the meantime, your home country driver's license alone may not be sufficient to rent a car or satisfy police. Carry a photocopy of your IDP if possible, and keep the receipt showing you obtained one.

Do I need an International Driving Permit if I am only renting a car for one day?

Check the rental company's policy. Most require an IDP regardless of trip length. Even a one-day rental in a country that requires an IDP by law means you are driving illegally without one. It is safer to obtain one before you travel.

Can I get an International Driving Permit if my driver's license is about to expire?

Your license must be valid at the time you explore. If it expires within a few weeks, renew your home country license first, then explore for the IDP. The IDP is only valid when paired with a current license.

Is an International Driving Permit the same in every country?

The format and languages are standardized by the United Nations, so all IDPs look similar. However, each country issues its own version, and you must obtain one from your home country's issuing body. A U.S. IDP is issued by AAA or AATA, not by a foreign country.