IDP vs international driving license: what's the difference?

Updated 21 Jun 2026

Direct answer

There is no such official document as an 'international driving license'. The only recognised document is the International Driving Permit (IDP) — an official translation of your national licence issued under a UN convention. Websites selling an 'international driving license' are usually private sellers; what they ship is a translation, not a licence, and some are outright scams.

At a glance

International driving license: Not an official document — marketing term
International Driving Permit (IDP): Official translation booklet under UN convention
What sellers actually ship: A translation, not a licence
Issued by: An authorised body in your own country only
Watch for: 'Valid in 175+ countries' overclaims = red flag

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.

2 authority sources

1 · Verify the rule

Choose your license country, destination, dates, and vehicle type.

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.

Why 'international driving license' is the wrong term

No government issues an 'International Driving License' — the term exists mainly in marketing by private sellers. The genuine document is the International Driving Permit (IDP), and it is not a licence at all: it is a standardised translation of the national licence you already hold, valid only alongside it. When a site advertises an 'international driving license' that 'replaces' your licence or is 'valid in 175+ countries', that is a misrepresentation consumer regulators have repeatedly flagged.

Official IDP vs a certified translation companion

Two legitimate things exist: the official IDP booklet (from an authorised national issuer, e.g. AAA or AATA in the United States) and a certified translation of your licence. Both are translations; both are carried with your original licence; neither is a 'licence'. A certified translation companion is the honest, instant version of the same idea — useful where a translation is accepted or where staff simply need to read your card.

How to avoid the scam sellers

Be wary of any site using the phrase 'international driving license', claiming official status while burying a disclaimer that it 'is only a translation', or promising validity in an implausible number of countries. Official issuers and consumer agencies (USAGov, the FTC, GOV.UK) publish warnings about these sites. A trustworthy translation service states plainly what it is — a translation companion, not a government permit.

What to prepare

Treat 'international driving license' offers with caution
Get an official IDP from your country's authorised issuer if a booklet is required
Or use an honest certified translation companion where a translation is accepted
Always keep your original national licence with you
Verify any seller's disclaimer matches its marketing

Check your exact route

License country × destination × vehicle — free, 1 minute.

Need your license translated?

Clearly-labeled translation companion — never a fake permit.

Frequently asked questions

Is an 'international driving license' a real thing?

No. The only recognised document is the International Driving Permit (IDP). 'International driving license' is a marketing term used mostly by private sellers, and what they ship is a translation of your licence — not a licence.

Who can issue a real IDP?

Only an authorised body in your own country, before you travel — for example AAA and AATA in the United States, or the AA/RAC in the UK. No legitimate IDP is issued to you while abroad.

Is a certified translation a scam then?

No — a certified translation is legitimate and useful, as long as it's described honestly as a translation companion (not an official permit or licence) and you carry your original national licence with it.

Government and authority sources

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

Requirements vary by country. Carry your translation together with your original driving licence and passport; some countries require an official IDP issued by an authorised body in your country of licence. Information provided is general guidance. Always check local regulations for your destination.