If you're planning to drive abroad, you've probably come across the term International Driving Permit (IDP). And if you're short on time, your first instinct might be to handle the whole thing online. The answer — like most things in this space — isn't a simple yes or no.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not a standalone license. It's a translation document — a standardized booklet recognized in over 150 countries that renders your valid domestic driver's license into multiple languages. Foreign authorities use it alongside your U.S. license to verify your identity and driving privileges without a language barrier.
An IDP does not replace your license. If your domestic license is expired, suspended, or revoked, an IDP carries no legal weight. The two documents work together, not independently.
This is where the online question gets specific. In the United States, only two organizations are federally authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs:
No other organization — domestic or foreign — is legally authorized to issue a U.S. IDP. Any third-party website offering to issue or "process" an IDP on your behalf is not an authorized issuer. The U.S. Department of State has issued warnings about fraudulent IDP services that charge fees for documents that won't be recognized abroad. 🚩
Partially — and it depends on which issuer you use and what's available at the time.
Both AAA and AATA have offered mail-in application processes. AAA, in particular, has provided an online application portal in some circumstances, but the process has historically required you to either:
Whether a fully online application — where you upload your materials digitally without mailing anything — is available depends on the issuing organization's current process, which can change. AAA membership is not required to apply for an IDP through AAA, though fees may differ for non-members.
| Application Component | Typically Required |
|---|---|
| Valid U.S. driver's license (copy) | ✅ Yes |
| Two passport-style photos | ✅ Yes |
| Completed application form | ✅ Yes |
| Fee payment | ✅ Yes |
| In-person visit or mail | Varies by issuer/process |
IDPs issued through standard processing are typically available same-day or within a short window if you apply in person at a AAA branch. Mail-in applications take longer — the exact timeframe depends on the issuer and current processing volume.
If you're traveling soon, an in-person application at a AAA office is often the faster path. Planning ahead by several weeks is a reasonable approach if mailing is your only option. 🗓️
An IDP is specifically for temporary driving while traveling internationally. It does not:
Some countries require an IDP; others accept a valid U.S. license directly. Requirements vary by destination country, so verifying what the specific country requires — often through that country's embassy or tourism authority — is a separate step from obtaining the IDP itself.
Search results for "international driver's license online" often surface third-party services that charge fees to issue a document that is not a legitimate IDP under U.S. State Department authorization. These documents may look official but are not recognized by most foreign governments or law enforcement authorities.
The indicators of a legitimate IDP process are straightforward: it runs through AAA or AATA, it requires submission of a valid domestic license copy, and it doesn't promise instant issuance purely through a digital upload with no further steps.
How this process plays out for you depends on factors that no single article can assess:
The process of getting an IDP is comparatively straightforward — but only if you go through an authorized issuer, understand what the document actually does, and verify what your destination country specifically requires. Those three pieces come from different sources, and none of them is a third-party IDP website.