The short answer is: you can start — and often complete — much of the process online, but what's available to you depends on who issues the document, where you live, and which organization you go through.
Understanding how this works requires clearing up one common misconception first.
The document most people are referring to is called an International Driving Permit (IDP). It's not a standalone license — it's a translation document. An IDP works alongside your valid domestic driver's license to help foreign authorities read your credentials in their language. It doesn't grant new driving privileges; it supports the ones you already have.
IDPs are recognized in most countries that have signed the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the 1968 Vienna Convention, though not every country accepts them, and some countries have their own requirements for foreign drivers.
If you see services advertising a "genuine international driver's license" as a standalone credential you can purchase online — without referencing your existing license — that's a red flag. No such document exists under international treaty.
In the U.S., only two organizations are authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs:
No government agency — including the DMV — issues IDPs directly to U.S. residents. Any third-party website claiming to issue an "official" IDP outside of these two organizations is not recognized under U.S. or international standards.
Both authorized issuers require that you hold a valid U.S. driver's license. You cannot obtain an IDP without one.
Both AAA and AATA allow applicants to initiate the IDP process online, but the degree to which the entire process can be completed digitally varies.
Here's how the process generally works:
| Step | Typically Done Online? |
|---|---|
| Submit application form | Yes |
| Pay the application fee | Yes |
| Submit passport-style photos | Varies (some require in-person) |
| Present your valid driver's license | Often requires in-person or mail-in copy |
| Receive the IDP | Mail delivery or in-person pickup |
Some AAA branches allow walk-in processing where the IDP is issued the same day. Others process applications by mail. The availability of fully online or fully remote processing can depend on your local branch and their current procedures.
AATA tends to handle more of its process through mail. You submit your application, photos, and a copy of your license, and the IDP is mailed back to you.
Neither process is entirely "click a button and receive a document." Physical photos and a copy or presentation of your valid license are standard requirements.
Regardless of which authorized issuer you use, you'll typically need:
Some issuers have minimum age requirements — often 18 — though requirements can vary.
IDPs issued in the U.S. are generally valid for one year from the date of issue. They do not renew automatically, and they cannot be extended. If you need coverage beyond a year, you apply again.
An IDP is only valid when accompanied by your original domestic driver's license. Carrying the IDP alone provides no legal driving authority abroad.
This works in reverse. If you're a foreign national visiting the U.S. with a driver's license issued in another country, an IDP from your home country may allow you to drive in certain U.S. states. Each state sets its own rules about how long a foreign license is valid within its borders and whether an IDP is required alongside it.
If you're a foreign national who has established residency in a U.S. state, the rules shift again — most states require you to obtain a state-issued driver's license within a specific window after establishing residency. In that case, an IDP is not a long-term substitute for a domestic license.
Search results for "international driver's license online" frequently surface third-party websites that charge fees to generate laminated cards or official-looking documents. These are not recognized by the U.S. Department of State, are not accepted under international treaty frameworks, and have caused real problems for travelers who arrived abroad with documents that weren't accepted by local authorities.
The only way to get a valid IDP as a U.S. resident is through AAA or AATA. That won't change based on how official a website looks.
Whether the online process works smoothly for you depends on factors including your location, which issuer's branches are near you, how quickly you need the document, and the specific country you're traveling to — since some destinations have requirements that go beyond a standard IDP.
Your destination country's entry rules, road authority regulations, and any bilateral driving agreements with the U.S. all shape what you'll actually need in hand before you drive abroad.