If you are a legal resident of the United States who plans on renting a vehicle to drive in another country, will the driver’s license which was issued by a local government office of the state in which you are based suffice — or do you need another document which is known as an International Driving Permit?
Do You Need an International Driving Permit? It Is NOT a License…
The International Driving Permit is often incorrectly called an International Driver’s License. An International Driving Permit is not a license to drive in other countries. Rather, it is merely a small paper booklet which is a recognized valid form of identification in 183 countries and territories around the world. In addition to the International Driving Permit, you still need your driver’s license to operate a private motor vehicle legally in another country…
…but the main purpose of an International Driving Permit is to translate the information of your valid driver’s license into ten different languages — so in the event that you are stopped by law enforcement in another country and are asked to present your information, the officer will be able to quickly understand that information at the scene, which will help speed up the process of resolving whatever was the issue. In addition to the aforementioned information, an International Driving Permit also includes your name and photograph.
The International Driving Permit was created as part of the Convention on Road Traffic, United Nations, Geneva 1949, which set up a framework to issue driver’s licenses in different languages — but some of the countries and territories which were not a party of the Geneva Convention in 1949 still officially recognize an International Driving Permit.
Additionally, 19 countries and territories in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean officially recognize what is known as an Inter-American Driving Permit, which might not be issued by all of the 19 countries and territories due to most of them being parties of the 1949 Geneva Convention or the 1968 Vienna Convention. Only Brazil and Uruguay do not officially recognize an International Driving Permit; so in those two countries, only an Inter-American Driving Permit is officially recognized.
Interestingly, legal residents and citizens of the United States cannot rent a motor vehicle in China without first getting an official Chinese driver’s license.
How to Get an International Driving Permit
Only two automobile associations in the United States are officially authorized to issue an International Driving Permit or Inter-American Driving Permit, and only in the country of residence, as you need to obtain a permit before you travel:
- American Automobile Association — which is also known as AAA
- American Automobile Touring Alliance — which is also known as AATA
The cost is a total of $20.00 — plus the cost of two identical photographs of yourself which is the same size as one used for a passport. No test is required to obtain either permit, which are valid for one year. You mist be at least 18 years of age to qualify for either permit. Your driver’s license must not expire within six months when applying for either permit — otherwise, you must renew your driver’s license before obtaining either permit.
You cannot purchase either an International Driving Permit or Inter-American Driving Permit from anyone else anywhere else; so do not be fooled by scammers.
Final Boarding Call
Keep in mind that just because a country or territory recognizes an International Driving Permit does not mean that you are required to have one in your possession while driving in that country or territory. Also, the general rule to follow is that countries in which:
- English is the official primary language do not usually require an International Driving Permit
- Roman letters from the Latin alphabet are used — such as those used in French, Spanish, and Italian, for example — may or may not require an International Driving Permit
- Characters other than those found in the Latin alphabet — such as Hebrew, Japanese, Thai, Arabic, or Vietnamese, for example — typically require an International Driving Permit
When renting a car to drive in another country, carefully check the terms, rules, and conditions of the rental car company which outline the license requirements prior to booking a reservation for renting a vehicle to find the section on whether an International Driving Permit is required, as you having the proper documentation while driving in a different country or territory is in the best interest of the rental car company. In other words: always check all of the fine print of those terms, rules, and conditions of the rental car company prior to booking a reservation for a rental car in another country.
I have driven a motor vehicle in a total of 35 countries — eleven of them on the left side of the road — around the world; and that does not include territories. By my personal experience, no agent at a rental car facility in any of those countries has specifically asked for an International Driving Permit — which does not necessarily mean that one is not required.
Fines for driving without an International Driving Permit can be quite costly — especially in a country or territory which requires it. At a total cost of $20.00, having an International Driving Permit anyway with your driver’s license is an inexpensive form of greater peace of mind, as you are responsible for adhering to the laws of any countries or territories around the world which you visit. You do not want to be stopped in a foreign country where your official driver’s license may not be valid on its own.
Finally: although this article was written for people who are based in the United States, it applies to many other countries and territories around the world. For example, if someone from Canada has a driver’s license issued by that country, his or her International Driving Permit must also be issued in Canada.
All photographs ©2015, ©2018, and ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
