Does Your License Need an Upgrade If You’re Driving Abroad? It Depends

Being behind the wheel during an international vacation means that you’re never at the mercy of taxis, trains or buses. However, many people shy away from driving during foreign holidays because they don’t quite understand the rules for driving internationally. Do you need an International Driver’s Permit (IDP)? Let’s drill down to see what you need to know about driving in a foreign country.

Road Tripping in North America

The good news is that, if you’re an American, you don’t have to worry about obtaining an IDP if you’re planning a road trip that will have you crossing a border into Mexico or Canada. Both countries consider United States driver’s licenses to be valid. Of course, you’ll still need to be sure that your passport is current before you try to drive across either border!

If you’re driving in the United States and you live in another country, it’s a little more complicated. Some states in the US require an International Driving Permit (IDP) from foreign nationals, in addition to a valid license from your own country. Contact the motor vehicle department of each state you will drive in for its requirements.

If you want to rent a car, you may need both your license and an IDP. Find out the rental company’s policies and other requirements in advance of your trip. For more details, check out the information on this usa.gov page.

What Countries Require an International Driving Permit?

The good news is that most countries in Europe are just fine with drivers from other countries taking to their roads without an international driver’s permit. The big thing to know, if you’re a US citizen, is that you must possess a valid United States driver’s license in order to have your driving qualifications carry over. A handful of countries in Europe do require an IDP. You’ll want to make sure you’re prepared if you’ll be staying in or driving through any of the European countries that require an IDP. Here’s the list:

• Austria
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Croatia
• The Czech Republic
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovenia
• Slovakia
• Spain

Some Car Rental Agencies Will Require It

You may think that you’re in the clear if you don’t plan to drive in any of the countries on the list. However, there’s something else to think about before you scrap plans to apply for an IDP. Are you planning to rent a car in Europe? It turns out that IDP requirements actually vary by rental agency. Some agencies in countries that don’t require IDPs actually require IDPs before they will rent to Americans. It will be necessary to ask the rental agency you plan to use what the requirement is ahead of time. In theory, without an IDP, you may not be able to pick up your car rental, but not all rental agencies will enforce the rules.

What About Countries Outside of Europe?

When renting a car outside of Europe, you may need an IDP, and it’s probably safer to have one. Flyertalk members have reported that they have been asked for it in places like Argentina and Japan. The best way to know for sure is to contact the embassy of the country you plan on visiting.

How Do I Get an International Driver’s Permit?

Getting an IDP is actually a pretty simple task. In fact, your local AAA branch should be able to help you with getting your IDP. The American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) is another organization that can help you to obtain your IDP. These are actually the only two organizations that distribute IDPs in the United States. The cost of an IDP is $20. Are you wondering how quickly you can obtain an IDP? You can actually have yours issued immediately if you visit your local AAA branch. The process can take between 10 and 15 days if you opt to have one mailed to you by AAA or AATA.

Should You Get an IDP Before Driving in Another Country?

You may not technically need to obtain an IDP to drive in the country you plan to visit. However, it’s not a bad idea to obtain some extra peace of mind for just $20. Having that IDP if you get pulled over during an international trip could save you from some big hassles. The big benefit of having an IDP is that all of your information is translated on the document.

What’s more, having an IDP will give you more freedom to change rental agencies at the last minute if there is an issue with your car reservation. The bottom line is that an IDP is a great tool for some added road safety when driving in a foreign country. If you are going to go ahead and get an IDP, remember that you won’t want to apply way ahead of time. The permit is only valid for one year, though it offers a grace period of six months.