If you're planning to drive abroad, you've likely come across the term International Driving Permit (IDP) — and you may be wondering whether you can get one without leaving your house. The short answer is: it depends on where you apply and through what channel. Here's how the process actually works.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not a standalone license. It's a translation document — a standardized booklet that renders your existing driver's license into multiple languages recognized under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and the 1968 Vienna Convention. When you drive in a foreign country, local authorities use the IDP alongside your domestic license to verify your driving credentials without needing to read your home language.
Key point: an IDP is only valid when paired with your original domestic driver's license. It doesn't replace it. If your license is expired, suspended, or revoked, an IDP issued on top of it carries no legal weight.
In the U.S., only two organizations are authorized by the federal government to issue IDPs:
No government agency — not the DMV, not the State Department — issues IDPs directly to American drivers. This is an important distinction, because a number of websites advertise "official" international licenses for fees ranging from modest to steep. Many of these are not legitimate sources.
If you encounter a third-party website claiming to issue an internationally recognized driver's license or IDP for a fee, treat it with caution. The only U.S.-issued IDPs recognized in most foreign countries come through AAA or AATA.
This is where the process gets specific. Both AAA and AATA have online application components, but the full process has historically required submitting physical documents — including:
Some AAA branches allow members to initiate or complete applications by mail. Walk-in processing is available at many AAA offices and is often the fastest route if you need the IDP quickly before international travel.
Whether a fully online, end-to-end application — where no physical documents are mailed and the IDP is issued digitally — is available depends on current policies at the time you apply. Neither organization issues a digital IDP. The final product is a physical booklet. That limits how "online" the process can truly be.
Regardless of how you submit your application, a few things must be in place:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Valid domestic license | Your U.S. driver's license must be current and valid |
| Age minimum | Typically 18 years old |
| Passport-style photos | Usually two, meeting specific size and background requirements |
| Application fee | Varies by issuing organization; check current rates directly |
| Residency | Generally must be a U.S. resident applying through a U.S. issuer |
Your domestic license class matters, too. If you hold a standard Class D or Class C license, the IDP reflects that. If you hold a CDL (Commercial Driver's License), the IDP may not automatically extend commercial driving privileges abroad — individual countries set their own rules on what foreign CDL holders may operate.
IDPs issued in the U.S. are typically valid for one year from the date of issue. They're recognized in over 150 countries, but not universally. Some countries — including several in the European Union — have their own requirements about whether U.S. license holders need an IDP, and for how long a foreign license is valid before a local license is required.
If you're relocating internationally rather than visiting, an IDP is generally a short-term solution, not a permanent one. Most countries have a window — often 30 to 90 days, though this varies — during which a foreign license (with or without an IDP) is accepted before local licensing requirements kick in.
An IDP does not:
Whether a mostly online application works for you, how quickly you can receive your IDP, and whether an IDP is even required in your destination country depend on factors that aren't universal:
The process of getting an IDP is more straightforward than many DMV-related procedures, but "applying online" doesn't mean the entire process is digital. Your domestic license, your destination, and your timeline are the pieces that determine exactly what steps you'll need to take.