An International Driving Permit — abbreviated as IDP, sometimes called an International Driving License (IDL) — is one of the most misunderstood travel documents in existence. Most people either don't know it exists or assume it's some kind of upgraded internationally-recognized license that requires testing.
Neither is true. Here's exactly what it is.
The Simple Definition
An IDP is the official translation of your existing, valid driver's license. It takes the information on your home-country license — your name, photograph, vehicle categories, expiry date — and presents it simultaneously in 10 languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, Arabic, Japanese, Italian, and Portuguese.
No new driving privileges. No additional test. No government exam. Just your existing credentials made readable to the entire world.
Think of it like a passport for your driver's license. Your driver's license proves you can drive. The IDP proves what your license says — to anyone, anywhere, in their own language.
What the IDP Contains
- Your full legal name
- Your photograph
- Your home-country driver's license number
- The vehicle categories you are licensed to drive
- Your license expiry date
- All of the above in 10 languages
What the IDP Is NOT
- Not a standalone license — must always be carried with your original driver's license
- Not a new license — gives no driving privileges beyond what your home license grants
- Not a substitute for a local license — long-term residents must convert to a local license
- Not a work permit — covers personal tourist driving only, not professional employment
The Legal Framework: Why It Exists
The IDP was created under international treaty law. Two United Nations conventions govern road traffic internationally:
- The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic — ratified by 102 countries
- The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic — the more modern framework, ratified by 83 countries
The US signed the 1949 convention but not the 1968 one. Most European countries operate under the 1968 framework. This creates a legal gap where European countries are not automatically obligated to recognize US licenses — the IDP bridges that gap by providing a UN-standardized document both conventions accept.
Get Your IDP Today
Apply in 10 minutes. Digital same day for $29. Printed booklet from $59.
No. There is no test involved. The IDP is a translation document. You must already hold a valid driver's license from your home country to apply.
No. The IDP is always used alongside your original driver's license. Without your home license, the IDP has no legal standing.
A standard IDP is valid for 1 year from the issue date. The 3-year bundle gives you 3 full years. The IDP can never outlast your underlying driver's license.