How do I get an International Driving Permit?
Updated 21 Jun 2026
Direct answer
Apply for an International Driving Permit through the authorised issuer in your own country before you travel — in the US that's AAA or AATA, in the UK the Post Office. You'll need your valid national licence, passport photos and a small fee (around US$20). It must be obtained at home; no legitimate IDP is issued to you abroad.
At a glance
- Where to apply
- Authorised issuer in your own country, before travel
- US issuers
- AAA and AATA (the only two State-Dept-authorised)
- Typical cost
- ≈US$20 + passport photos (+ shipping)
- What you need
- Valid national licence + photos + fee
- Faster companion
- An instant certified translation where accepted
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.
Step by step (the official IDP)
Confirm you hold a valid national driving licence, then apply through your country's authorised issuer. In the United States the only two authorised issuers are AAA and AATA — apply in person or by mail with your licence details and two passport photos for roughly US$20. In the UK, IDPs are issued over the counter at selected Post Offices. The permit is issued before travel; you cannot get a valid IDP once you've arrived at your destination.
What it costs and how long it takes
An official IDP is inexpensive — about US$20 plus the cost of passport photos and any shipping. In person it's often same-day; by mail, allow several business days plus postage. Beware private websites charging US$40–70 for an 'express international driving permit': they are not authorised issuers, and what they actually send is a translation document, sometimes one that's rejected at the border.
When a certified translation is the better route
An official IDP is only issued to residents of the issuing country and can be slow by mail. If you've left it late, your licence country won't issue to non-residents, or your destination accepts a translation, a certified translation companion is the instant alternative — delivered digitally in minutes and carried with your original licence. Use the official IDP where the booklet is specifically required; use a certified translation where a translation is accepted.
What to prepare
- A valid national driving licence (not expired)
- Two passport-style photos
- Application fee (~US$20 at an authorised issuer)
- Apply before you travel — never rely on getting one abroad
- Or order an instant certified translation where a translation is accepted
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an International Driving Permit online?
How much does an official IDP cost?
Can I get an IDP after I've already arrived abroad?
Government and authority sources
Also see our authorized issuer guidance for where to get a real IDP when your trip requires one.