International driving permits, and when you need one

An international driving permit (IDP) is a translation of your driving licence, not a licence on its own. Some countries ask for one if you plan to drive or hire a car, and it only counts when you carry your original licence with it.

What an IDP actually is

An IDP restates your name, photograph and licence details in several languages, so an official who cannot read your home licence can still check what you are allowed to drive. The American Automobile Association, which is authorised to issue them in the United States, says an IDP carries your details in 10 languages. It is not a second licence: if your licence has expired or been withdrawn, a permit cannot fix that. An IDP also has to be issued in the country that issued your licence, so a permit bought elsewhere will not be accepted alongside it.

When you need one

It depends on the country you visit and how long you stay. gov.uk keeps a country-by-country table: some countries want a permit for any stay, some only for longer visits or for car hire, and some do not ask for one at all. A trip through several countries can mean you need more than one type, so check every country on your route and not just your final stop. Driving in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein does not need an IDP if you hold a photocard licence issued in the UK, but a paper licence, or one issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, can change that.

The three types of permit

There are three IDP types, named after the international conventions behind them: 1926, 1949 and 1968. The one you need depends on where you are going, and the formats are not interchangeable. If a country is not covered by an official table, ask its embassy, and ask your car hire company too, because rental firms can set their own requirements. Many hire desks ask for a permit even where local law does not.

Getting one before you travel

Apply in good time. aaa.com says a permit cannot be issued more than six months before the date you want it to start, and in the UK you can collect one in person from certain shops that have PayPoint. Do not apply for an IDP if you are moving abroad: you need to exchange your licence, or apply for a new one in that country, instead. Carry the permit with the licence itself, in your hand luggage rather than a checked bag.

Bottom line

An IDP is a small cost against a problem at a rental desk or a roadside check, but it is only as good as the licence it translates. Check the rules for every country you will drive in, get the right type, and keep the original licence with it.