How much does an International Driving Permit cost?

Updated 21 Jun 2026

Direct answer

An official International Driving Permit costs about US$20 from an authorised issuer such as AAA or AATA, plus the cost of passport photos and any shipping. Private websites that charge US$40–70 for an 'international driving permit' are not authorised issuers — what they ship is a translation, which you can get faster and cheaper as a certified translation companion.

At a glance

Official IDP (US): ≈US$20 + photos at AAA / AATA
UK IDP: £5.50 over the counter at the Post Office
Private 'IDP' sellers: US$40–70 — not authorised issuers
What sellers ship: A translation, not an official permit
Certified translation: Instant digital + optional print

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.

What an official IDP really costs

Authorised issuers keep IDPs cheap because the document is simple: in the United States, AAA and AATA charge about US$20, plus a few dollars for passport photos if you need them taken. In the UK, the Post Office issues an IDP for £5.50. Costs above this — especially 'express' fees of US$40–70 advertised online — are a reliable sign you're on a private reseller's site, not an authorised issuer.

Why the expensive 'IDP' sites cost more for less

Private sellers inflate the price because they're selling convenience and urgency, not an official permit — their product is a translation of your licence, sometimes with quasi-official branding that consumer regulators warn against. You're paying a premium for the same thing an honest certified translation provides, and occasionally for a document that's refused at a rental desk or border.

Certified translation: the transparent option

A certified translation companion is priced and delivered transparently: you see the cost up front, receive an instant digital file, and can add a printed copy. It's the right choice where a translation is accepted in place of an IDP, or where your licence's language and script need to be readable by officials and rental staff. Where a country specifically requires the IDP booklet, pay the ~US$20 to your authorised issuer instead.

What to prepare

Budget ~US$20 (US) or £5.50 (UK) for an official IDP
Add the cost of passport photos if needed
Avoid 'express IDP' sites charging US$40–70
Compare against an instant certified translation where accepted
Always keep your original national licence

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

Why do some sites charge $50+ for an IDP?

Because they aren't authorised issuers — they're private sellers charging for urgency and quasi-official branding while shipping a translation. An official IDP is about US$20; a certified translation companion gives you the same translation, transparently priced.

Is a cheap IDP a scam?

Not necessarily — the official ones genuinely are cheap (~US$20). It's the expensive, 'official-looking' sites with overclaims like 'valid in 175+ countries' that warrant caution.

What's the cheapest legitimate way to drive abroad with a foreign licence?

Where the IDP booklet is required, the ~US$20 official IDP. Where a translation is accepted, an instant certified translation companion — often faster and clearer, with no inflated 'express' fees.

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.