Every IDP question answered clearly and completely.
An IDP is the official UN-recognized translation of your driver's license into 10 languages simultaneously. It allows police, rental agents, and border officials anywhere in the world to read your driving credentials in their own language. It creates no new driving privileges — it translates your existing ones.
Yes — IDP (International Driving Permit) and IDL (International Driver's License) refer to the same document. The official UN term is 'permit' not 'license,' but both are used interchangeably.
Yes. Italian law requires non-EU drivers to carry an IDP alongside their home-country license. Without one, your rental may be denied and your insurance can be voided. Fines range from €87–€345.
Digital IDP: $29 (same-day email, 1-year validity). Printed IDP: $59 (physical booklet by mail, 1-year validity). 3-Year Bundle (digital + printed): $69 (3-year validity). No hidden fees.
A standard IDP is valid for 1 year from the issue date. The 3-Year Bundle gives you 3 full years of coverage. The IDP can never outlast your underlying driver's license.
No. There is absolutely no test involved. You must already hold a valid driver's license from your home country to apply. The IDP simply translates it.
Online in 10 minutes: photograph your driver's license (front and back), take a passport-style photo, fill in your details, choose your plan, and pay securely. Digital IDPs arrive by email the same day.
A valid driver's license (not expired, not a learner's permit), a passport-style photo taken within the last 6 months (white background, full face, no glasses), your full name, date of birth, and home address.
Yes. Most reputable providers are fully mobile-optimized. You can photograph your license and take your passport photo directly from your phone.
Technically, an IDP should be obtained in your home country before travel. If you're already abroad, a digital IDP can be delivered by email and is accepted in most countries — except Japan, which requires a physical booklet.
At least 2 weeks before travel if you want a printed booklet (to allow shipping time). For a digital IDP, you can apply right up to departure day.
Yes. Italian law requires non-EU drivers to carry an IDP. Rental agencies are increasingly enforcing this, and traffic police ask for it at stops.
Yes — and Japan specifically requires the 1949 Geneva Convention format IDP, in physical printed booklet form. Digital IDPs are not accepted in Japan.
Not strictly for US drivers, thanks to a 1999 bilateral agreement. However, an IDP is recommended for cross-border trips into Austria, Poland, or other neighboring countries where the requirement is strict.
China does not accept IDPs at all — it requires a temporary Chinese driving permit issued locally. Brazil and Uruguay require the Inter-American Driving Permit (IADP) for extended stays.
Yes — a single IDP covers all 150+ signatory countries simultaneously. You don't need separate documents for different countries on the same trip.
Yes, in countries where the IDP is legally required. Insurance policies exclude coverage for illegal activity. Your rental CDW, credit card travel insurance, and personal travel insurance can all be voided.
In countries with strict requirements: fines range from €87 (Italy) to €500 (Spain). In some cases — Spain, Greece — you can be detained at a police station until your identity is confirmed.
No. The IDP is valid for personal, tourist driving only.
Contact our support team — or just get your IDP now. Digital delivery in 10 minutes for $29.