🛂 Travel & Immigration

International Driving Permit: The 1-Year Document Most Road-Trippers Forget

Updated July 25, 2026

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation of your US driver’s license into multiple languages, recognized under international road-traffic conventions. In the US, it is issued by AAA, it is valid for one year from its issue date, and it only works alongside your regular license — it is not a standalone license. Many countries require or strongly recommend one before they will rent you a car or accept your US license on their roads.

The IDP is the classic forgotten travel document: cheap, quick to get, and completely invisible until you are at a rental counter in another country being told you cannot take the car. And because it expires every single year, even travelers who got one for their last trip usually discover it has lapsed before the next one.

What an IDP is — and what it is not

An IDP is a standardized booklet that translates the information on your driver’s license into many languages, so a police officer or rental agent abroad can verify that you hold a valid license at home. It carries your photo and license details, and it is only valid when presented together with the license it translates. On its own, it proves nothing and permits nothing.

It is also not something you can get abroad after the fact, and there is no legitimate online-only issuer for US drivers. Websites selling "international driver’s licenses" as standalone documents are selling something no country recognizes. For US license holders, AAA is the authorized issuer — you do not need to be a AAA member to get one.

A translation of your license, not a replacement for it
Must be carried together with your valid US driver’s license
Issued in the US by AAA; membership not required
Standalone "international licenses" sold online are not legitimate

Where you need one

Requirements vary by country. Some legally require an IDP for foreign drivers; others officially recommend it; in many more, rental companies demand one at the counter regardless of what national law says. Countries where your license is not in the local language or alphabet are the most likely to insist on it.

The safe rule for any international trip involving driving: check the entry and driving requirements for your destination — the State Department’s country information pages cover this — and when in doubt, get the IDP. It costs little, and the downside of not having it ranges from a refused rental to trouble with police or an invalidated insurance claim after an accident.

How to get one, and why timing matters

You apply through AAA with a completed application, your valid US driver’s license, passport-style photos, and a fee — check aaa.com for the current requirements and cost. Many AAA branches can issue an IDP on the spot; mail applications take longer. Either way, this is a days-not-months errand, which is exactly why people leave it too late.

The one-year validity is the trap. An IDP is valid for one year from its issue date, so the permit from last summer’s trip is dead weight in your travel folder this summer. If you drive abroad most years, treat the IDP like an annual subscription: it renews only if you renew it.

Put the IDP on a 12-month cycle

Because the IDP always expires after one year, the reminder logic is simple: note the issue date, set a recurring annual reminder, and refresh the permit before trips instead of scrambling during them. If you only drive abroad occasionally, anchor the reminder to your typical travel season so the nudge lands while there is still time to visit a AAA branch.

Pair it with your driver’s license expiration reminder, too — an IDP is only as valid as the license underneath it. If your license expires mid-trip, the IDP cannot save you.

Frequently asked questions

How long is an International Driving Permit valid?

One year from its issue date. There is no multi-year version and no renewal — when it expires, you simply apply for a new one through AAA.

Can I use an IDP instead of my driver’s license?

No. An IDP is a translation of your license, not a license itself. It must be carried and presented together with your valid US driver’s license, both at rental counters and if you are stopped while driving.

Do I need to be a AAA member to get an IDP?

No. AAA issues IDPs to any eligible US license holder, member or not. You will need your valid license, passport-style photos, a completed application, and the current fee — see aaa.com for details.

Can I get an IDP after I have already left the US?

Generally no — plan to get it before you travel. IDPs for US license holders are issued in the US, and showing up abroad without one usually means driving without it or not driving at all.

Official sources