Skip to content
World Driving Permit

Can I drive in the US with a foreign licence?

🇺🇸 United States · Updated 21 Jun 2026

Direct answer

Yes — visitors can generally drive in the United States on a valid foreign national licence for the length of a typical tourist stay (often up to three months, varying by state). If your licence is not in English, carry a certified translation so police and rental desks can read it. The US does not issue IDPs to visitors, and you cannot buy a real 'US international licence' online.

At a glance

Tourist driving
Allowed on a valid foreign licence, short stays
How long
Varies by state — often up to ~3 months
Non-English licence
Carry a certified translation
US-issued IDP for visitors
Does not exist
Rental desks
May require a translation to read your licence
Trip decision path

Turn this guide into a clean travel plan

Use the guide as context, then confirm your exact license, destination, dates, and vehicle before buying anything.

4 authority sources

1 · Verify the rule

United States destination prefilled; choose your license country.

2 · Use an authorized IDP route

If the checker says an IDP is required, get it from your license country's authorized issuer. We do not sell IDPs.

3 · Add a translation companion

Use the translation pack when rental desks, insurers, or checkpoints need to read your license. It is not a permit.

The state-by-state reality

There is no single federal rule — each US state sets how long a visitor may drive on a foreign licence, commonly tied to your authorised stay (often up to about three months). For short tourist trips your valid home licence is generally accepted. If you become a resident, you must get a state licence within that state's window. Always confirm the rule for the state(s) you'll actually drive in.

When you need a translation

If your licence is in English, you usually need nothing extra for a short visit. If it is in another language or a non-Latin script (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Cyrillic, Thai…), carry a certified translation: many US rental companies require one for non-English licences, and police can't verify a card they can't read. The US does not issue IDPs to visitors, so the translation — not a booklet bought abroad — is what makes a non-English licence usable.

Ignore the 'US international licence' sellers

Websites selling a 'US international driver's license' are not official — no US body issues IDPs to foreign visitors, and federal consumer regulators warn these are often scams. The legitimate combination is your original licence plus, where needed, a certified translation. Where you specifically want an IDP (some rental chains ask for one), get it from an authorised issuer in your own country before you travel.

What to prepare

  • Your valid original foreign driving licence
  • A certified translation if it isn't in English
  • Confirmation of the driving rule for your US state(s)
  • Passport and entry documentation
  • Rental insurance / proof of coverage

Check your exact route

Starts with this guide's destination already filled in.

Need your license translated?

Clearly-labeled translation companion — never a fake permit.

Frequently asked questions

Do tourists need an IDP to drive in the USA?
Not by federal law for short visits on a valid licence — but if your licence isn't in English, carry a certified translation, and some rental companies ask for an IDP or translation. The US never issues IDPs to visitors.
How long can I drive in America on my home licence?
It varies by state, often up to around three months for visitors. Residents must obtain a state licence within that state's deadline. Check the specific state.
Can I buy a US international driving licence online?
No. No legitimate US 'international driver's license' exists for visitors; such sites are usually scams. Use your original licence plus a certified translation where needed.

Government and authority sources

Also see our authorized issuer guidance for where to get a real IDP when your trip requires one.

Related guides