Before driving abroad you will usually hear about two documents: the International Driving Permit (IDP) and a translation of your licence. They are not the same thing, and mixing them up is the most common way travellers end up at a rental desk without the right paperwork.
The International Driving Permit
An IDP is a standard booklet defined by two United Nations road-traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. It repeats the details on your licence in several languages, and countries that signed the convention agree to recognise it.
- It can only be issued by your home country, through the organisation your government authorises.
- In the United States, that is AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). AAA charges $20.
- A 1949 IDP is valid for one year. A 1968 IDP can be valid for up to three years.
- It is only valid together with your national licence.
The US Federal Trade Commission warns that websites claiming to sell IDPs through any other company are scams. If a site says you can get an official IDP from it, and it is not your country’s authorised issuer, walk away.
The licence translation
A licence translation, such as our International Driving Document, is a private document that puts the details of your licence into other languages. It doesn’t come from a convention, so no country is obliged to accept it. Where it helps is in countries that accept foreign licences but need to be able to read them: a rental clerk in Lisbon or a police officer in Istanbul can see your name, licence number and vehicle categories at a glance.
How to decide
Start with your destination, then your licence.
- Does the country require an IDP? Italy, Spain, Greece, Thailand and Indonesia expect visitors from outside their region to carry one. Get the official permit; a translation can travel alongside it but won’t replace it.
- Does it accept only one kind of IDP? Japan accepts only 1949 IDPs, and Vietnam only 1968 IDPs. If your country issues the other kind, you can’t drive there on it.
- Does it accept your licence as it is? Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada generally accept foreign licences for visitors. If your licence isn’t in English or the local language, a translation makes it readable.
The short version
If your destination requires an IDP, get it from your home country before you leave. If it accepts foreign licences, check whether yours is readable there, and carry a translation if it isn’t. Our country guides tell you which case applies.