What You Need to Know Before Driving Abroad
Planning to drive while traveling or living abroad? In many destinations, your regular driver’s license alone may not be enough. In fact, many countries require an International Driving Permit (IDP), an official translation of your license that confirms you are legally permitted to drive in your home country.
The IDP provides a simple way for local authorities and rental companies to verify your credentials without needing to interpret a foreign license. It translates key details into multiple languages, helping reduce confusion at rental desks, checkpoints, or roadside stops. Even where it isn’t required, it can still make travel easier when renting vehicles or dealing with officials abroad. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Countries That Require an IDP
The IDP is valid in all countries that have signed the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic and is recognized in many countries that are not signatories to the Convention.
You may be required to have a valid IDP to drive in some countries, and some foreign car rental agencies may require it to rent a car.
Therefore, it’s important to check the driving rules and regulations in the country you plan to visit, and verify requirements with the rental company before you leave to determine whether you need an IDP.
Although most countries require an IDP, some do not. For example, if you have a valid US driver’s license or a valid license that is written in English, you do not need an IDP in the following countries:
- Ireland
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Canada
- Mexico
In addition, if you have a European license, you can drive in most EU countries without the need for an additional permit.
Note that an IDP is not a substitute for a local license in your home country. In other words, should your traditional license be up for renewal in May, you cannot get away with using only an IDP in June. You will have to renew your local license on time.
Penalties For Not Having an IDP
If you are in one of those countries that require an IDP and you do not have one, penalties can range from a fine to a citation if you are pulled over.
If you are driving in Japan, the penalties are especially severe and can extend to arrest and deportation.
When You Need to Show It
As most frequent travelers will attest, you will rarely, if ever, be asked to show your IDP. Even countries that require it from foreign drivers might not ask to see it at the car rental counter.
However, given the ease and low cost of obtaining one, many travelers like to carry one just because it includes multilingual translations of their key identifying information.
How to Apply for an IDP
Overall, it is easy to apply for an IDP. You need to visit your authorized dealer and bring a copy of your driver’s license (front and back).
Most places can also make photocopies for you on-site. You also need two passport-style photos, which you must sign on the back.
The majority of authorized IDP vendors are automobile associations, which can issue passport photos for you as part of their services. Finally, you have to fill out the short application form.
In some cases, you can also send in your application by mail. If you do so, it generally takes less than a week to process the application and mail the new permit. If you apply in person, you only have to wait about 30 minutes, depending on how busy the location is.
How to Get Approval to Drive Abroad
Only certain organizations are authorized to sell the International Driving Permit. In most countries, the authorized seller is the national automobile association.
In the United States, it is AAA, and in Canada, it is CAA. You do not have to be a member of the automobile association to apply for an IDP.
Note that you must be at least 18 years old to apply, and you must have a full driver’s license, not a learner’s permit.
IDPs are valid for one year, or until your regular driver’s license expires, whichever comes first.
The Cost of a Foreign Driving Permit
Remarkably, this is one kind of travel documentation that is affordable! Fees vary by country, but they usually start around $20.
Avoiding International Driver’s License Scams
Tricksters take advantage of how people often use the phrase “international driver’s license” when they really mean “international driving permit”.
As such, they will sell an “international driver’s license,” but it is actually a useless document that has no legal standing or international recognition.
And chances are it will cost a lot more than the modest fee of the authentic international driving permit. It pays to be on alert!
Individuals or companies not authorized to issue IDPs sell fakes on websites, through unsolicited email, and in person for prices ranging from $60 to $400.
If you buy a fake IDP, not only will you be paying for a worthless document, but you also could face legal problems or travel delays if you’re detained for using it to drive in a foreign country. (Source FTC)
Dealing With an Expired IDP Abroad
In most cases, yes, provided your home driver’s license is still valid. However, you would have to cover the cost of the automobile association mailing your new document to you.
If you no longer have a valid driver’s license from home, you must apply for an IDP locally using your new local license.
Respect Foreign Road Rules
An IDP does not make you exempt from the rules of the road in your new country. Nor does it mean you will be held only to the driving rules and standards of your home country.
You are in another country, and it is their rules that rule the roost. It is up to you to prepare for driving there, including learning about speed limits, alcohol tolerance, interpreting road signs, and more.
Final Word: How Can You Tell If You REALLY Need An IDP?
At the end of the day, how can you know if you absolutely need an IDP before you rent a car, motorcycle, or scooter? Unfortunately, requirements for using IDPs are poorly publicized.
Back in 2012, the state of Florida passed a law requiring all foreign drivers to have an IDP. Unfortunately, the new rule was not communicated clearly, leaving Canadian snowbirds caught unaware.
Such was the uproar that Florida repealed the law within two months. And it is not just in Florida that confusion exists. Travel blogs are filled with stories of travelers who have been denied the ability to rent a car or scooter while overseas.
While you are planning your trip, search for phrases like “How To Rent A Scooter In <Country> ” or “Documents Needed For Car Rentals In <Country> ”.
When making online reservations, ask rental companies if they require an IDP. Clarify whether their response indicates a legal requirement or just a strong recommendation.
And, when in doubt, add an IDP to your travel packing list. It is an affordable, accessible document that can make your travel life easier – and in some cases, help to save your trip.
Vanessa Chiasson is an award-winning Canadian travel writer with over ten years of experience. Her work has appeared in major publications, and she draws on living in France, Ireland, England, and Malawi to bring global insight to her stories.
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