International Driving Permit: Get One Before You Fly

An International Driving Permit, or IDP, translates your U.S. driver license into several languages. Some countries require one to drive or rent a car, and it can help in a traffic stop anywhere your license is not in the local language.

The catch: you have to get it before you leave the United States. Here is how to tell if you need one, and how to get the real thing.

Key takeaways

• In the U.S., the State Department authorizes only AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) to issue IDPs.
• An IDP is valid for one year and only works alongside your valid U.S. license.
• Permits sold by other websites are not valid. Skip them.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

It depends on the country, and sometimes on the rental company.

1. Check the destination's rules. The State Department's country pages and the destination's embassy say whether an IDP is required. Look it up for every country you will drive in, not just the first.
2. Check your rental contract. A rental company can ask for one even where the law does not. Read the requirements before you pay.
3. Think about a traffic stop. If an officer cannot read your license, the IDP explains it. For a low cost, it can save a long conversation at the roadside.

If you are not sure, getting one is cheap insurance. AAA lists the fee as $20; check the current price before you apply.

How do I get a real one?

Only two organizations can issue an IDP in the United States: AAA and AATA. The State Department has warned that permits are being sold online and in person by people who are not authorized.

1. Apply through AAA or AATA. You can apply at an AAA office or by mail. By mail, AAA asks for a copy of both sides of your license and payment by check or money order.
2. Bring the basics. You need to be at least 18, with a valid U.S. license, a signed application and two identical 2 by 2 inch passport photos, signed on the back.
3. Check your license's expiry date first. The IDP only works while your U.S. license is valid. If your license expires during the trip, renew it first.
4. Apply a few weeks before you go. It is valid for one year, and AAA lets you pick a start date up to 6 months after you apply. So applying early costs nothing.

How to use it on the trip

• Carry it with your license, always. An IDP alone does not let you drive.
• Keep both with your passport, not in the rental car's glove box.
• Expect the rental desk to ask for all three: passport, license and IDP.
• Know the local rules. Speed limits, right of way and alcohol limits differ. An IDP does not change them.

Before you book the car, see rental car extras to check. If you need a passport renewal too, start there: see the passport six month rule.

Quick action checklist

• [ ] Look up each country on your route for IDP rules.
• [ ] Read your rental company's license requirements.
• [ ] Check that your U.S. license is valid for the whole trip.
• [ ] Apply through AAA or AATA, with two passport photos.
• [ ] Add a reminder for the IDP's one year expiry if you travel often.

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Rules for drivers vary by country and change. Check the State Department and your destination's embassy before you travel. See our disclosure policy for details.