The dated direct answer
International Driving Permit checker
Pick your destination and your license origin — we tell you which treaty governs, whether you need an IDP, and where to get one. One screen, no upsell.
Anti-scam rule: Get it only from AAA or AATA — never an online reseller.
INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT
Translation of your home licence — not a standalone permit
Check your route
The fixed facts
A genuine U.S. International Driving Permit costs $20. It is only issued by AAA or AATA — the two organizations the U.S. State Department authorizes — and there is no legitimate “instant digital IDP”. An IDP is a paper booklet that translates your existing license; you must already hold a valid driver's license and be at least 18.
An IDP never replaces your home license, and it is not a standalone permit. Whether a destination needs one depends on which road-traffic treaty it has ratified (the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna convention) and on your rental company's policy. Use the checker above for your route, then confirm with the destination's embassy before you travel.
- AAA application fee
- $20 (plus local tax; membership not required)
- Authorized U.S. issuers
- AAA and AATA only
- Minimum driver age
- 18
- Format
- Paper booklet — no valid digital version exists
Sources: aaa.com/vacation/idpf · consumer.ftc.gov · travel.state.gov
Last updated: 2026-06-12 · Fee and issuer list verified 2026-06-11 against aaa.com.
Sources & method
Every verdict traces to the Geneva 1949 / Vienna 1968 treaty registries and the U.S. State Department's country pages — never to vendor marketing. For US drivers, the only issuers authorized by the State Department are AAA and AATA.
Anti-scam rule: there is no legitimate “instant digital IDP”. Online sellers promising one are not recognized at any border.
Applying through AAA or AATA? The application requires two 2×2-inch passport photos — print them at home or order a passport photo kit on Amazon (affiliate link).
Country rules last verified: 2026-06-08 · Official sources: travel.state.gov · treaties.un.org · aaa.com
International Driving Permit — common questions
How much does an International Driving Permit cost?
A genuine IDP from AAA costs $20 (plus local tax where it applies). AAA membership is not required to apply. Some regional AAA clubs add a small mailing fee if you do not apply in person. Be skeptical of any site charging far more or promising an “instant” permit — those are not the State Department's authorized issuers.
Who can legally issue a U.S. International Driving Permit?
Only two organizations are authorized by the U.S. State Department: the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). Every other vendor — especially ones selling “digital” or “instant online” permits — is not recognized at borders, and the FTC has published a consumer alert warning about them. If a seller is not AAA or AATA, do not buy from them.
Is there a digital or instant International Driving Permit?
No. A legitimate IDP is a printed paper booklet that translates your existing license into multiple languages. There is no valid PDF, app, or “instant digital IDP”. Sites offering one are the single most common IDP scam; the document they send has no legal standing at any border.
Does an IDP replace my regular driver's license?
No. An IDP is only valid alongside your home-country license, which must be current. It is a translation document, not a standalone permit. Always carry both your IDP and your original license when you drive abroad. If your home license expires, the IDP becomes useless.
What's the difference between the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna conventions?
These are the two international road-traffic treaties that define IDP formats. A destination recognizes an IDP based on which convention it has ratified. The United States is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention but not the 1968 Vienna Convention, so a U.S.-issued IDP is a Geneva document. That distinction matters in some destinations — use the checker above and confirm the current treaty status for your specific destination with its embassy before you travel.
Do I have to be a certain age to get an IDP?
Yes. You must be at least 18 years old and already hold a valid driver's license from your home country. The IDP does not lower any local minimum driving or car-rental age — many rental companies set their own minimum at 21 or 25 and charge a young-driver surcharge regardless of your IDP.
Where and when should I apply for an IDP?
Apply before you leave your home country — most destinations will not let you obtain a foreign IDP locally, and AAA/AATA issue only to applicants present in the U.S. You can apply in person at a AAA branch or by mail. The application needs your valid license and two passport-style photos. A U.S. IDP is valid for one year from its issue date.
Driving-abroad gear
Useful kit for driving overseas. These are Amazon search links — they have nothing to do with your IDP, which only AAA or AATA can issue.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you (FTC 16 CFR Part 255). No money buys your IDP — that comes only from AAA or AATA.
This tool gives an estimate based on published rules. It is not legal or immigration advice.
This page contains one Amazon affiliate link, marked “affiliate link”. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you (FTC 16 CFR Part 255). Issuer and government links (AAA, AATA, U.S. State Department) are official, unpaid references.