Interested in getting an International Driving License or Permit (IDP)? This special license allows you to drive a rental car in different countries around the world.
If you are a frequent traveler like me, you probably prefer road trips and rent a car to drive abroad on your own.
Perhaps you want to drive in Iceland, rent a car to explore Morocco, or learn to drive in the opposite direction of the road in Ireland.
With an International Driver's License Permit, you can rent a car or motorcycle in all kinds of foreign locations, traveling at your own pace, and the freedom to stop anytime.
Without a permit, you may not be able to rent a car in some countries, or you may get in trouble with the police if you are pulled over for high speed (or just because you are foreign).
What is an International Driver's License?
An International Driving Permit, or IDP (sometimes called an International Driver's License) is a valid form of identification in 150 countries around the world.
It has your name, photo and country-to-country driver's license information translated into 10 different languages - so if you are stopped by the police or are abroad in an accident, the local authority will send your license information to your Will be able to read in the language.
How do you get an International Driving Permit?
If you live in the United States, it is very easy to obtain an International Driver License Permit. There are two official organizations that provide them in the United States - AAA and ITCA
If you are a Canadian, you will want to get one from itca
Just click one of the links below, fill out the application form, and leave it at your local office or mail it with two passport size photos (signed on the back).
American Automobile Association (AAA)
American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
Canadian Automobile Association (CAA)
How much does an IDP license cost?
An international driving permit costs $ 20 USD from the AAA, and lasts for one year. It is very cheap!
In Canada, IDP costs $ 25.00 CDN from CAA.
If you do not have any lies, you may also need a passport photo. Just stop by your local Walmart or FedEx Kinkos to have your passport photo professionally taken.
Or if you have some Photoshop skills and decent camera gear, you can also make your own passport photos like I did to save some money!
Do You Really Need an International Driver's License?
He depends. Many countries around the world are fine with looking at your local US drivers license. For example, Mexico, United Kingdom, Costa Rica, South Africa, Iceland, etc.
But not all of them. For example in Europe, the following countries technically require them:
Austria
Bosnia Herzegovina
Greece
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Italy
Slovenia
Spain
So it depends entirely on where you plan to travel. Some countries may also technically require an IDP, but they do not actually implement it. For example, I have rented cars many times without one in Italy.
For a complete list of countries that identify IDPs, click here.
If you think you can rent or drive a vehicle during a trip abroad, I can pick up a copy just to be safe.
Especially if you are going to travel to places like China, Japan, or Arabic speaking countries with a different writing system.
An international driver's permit is more difficult to obtain after you leave the United States and can take up to 4 weeks - so if you're going to travel long-term, it might be wise.
You will now have an additional form of picture recognition during the journey. In my opinion you can never have enough! ★
If you are a frequent traveler like me, you probably prefer road trips and rent a car to drive abroad on your own.
Perhaps you want to drive in Iceland, rent a car to explore Morocco, or learn to drive in the opposite direction of the road in Ireland.
With an International Driver's License Permit, you can rent a car or motorcycle in all kinds of foreign locations, traveling at your own pace, and the freedom to stop anytime.
Without a permit, you may not be able to rent a car in some countries, or you may get in trouble with the police if you are pulled over for high speed (or just because you are foreign).
What is an International Driver's License?
An International Driving Permit, or IDP (sometimes called an International Driver's License) is a valid form of identification in 150 countries around the world.
It has your name, photo and country-to-country driver's license information translated into 10 different languages - so if you are stopped by the police or are abroad in an accident, the local authority will send your license information to your Will be able to read in the language.
How do you get an International Driving Permit?
If you live in the United States, it is very easy to obtain an International Driver License Permit. There are two official organizations that provide them in the United States - AAA and ITCA
If you are a Canadian, you will want to get one from itca
Just click one of the links below, fill out the application form, and leave it at your local office or mail it with two passport size photos (signed on the back).
American Automobile Association (AAA)
American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
Canadian Automobile Association (CAA)
How much does an IDP license cost?
An international driving permit costs $ 20 USD from the AAA, and lasts for one year. It is very cheap!
In Canada, IDP costs $ 25.00 CDN from CAA.
If you do not have any lies, you may also need a passport photo. Just stop by your local Walmart or FedEx Kinkos to have your passport photo professionally taken.
Or if you have some Photoshop skills and decent camera gear, you can also make your own passport photos like I did to save some money!
Do You Really Need an International Driver's License?
He depends. Many countries around the world are fine with looking at your local US drivers license. For example, Mexico, United Kingdom, Costa Rica, South Africa, Iceland, etc.
But not all of them. For example in Europe, the following countries technically require them:
Austria
Bosnia Herzegovina
Greece
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Italy
Slovenia
Spain
So it depends entirely on where you plan to travel. Some countries may also technically require an IDP, but they do not actually implement it. For example, I have rented cars many times without one in Italy.
For a complete list of countries that identify IDPs, click here.
If you think you can rent or drive a vehicle during a trip abroad, I can pick up a copy just to be safe.
Especially if you are going to travel to places like China, Japan, or Arabic speaking countries with a different writing system.
An international driver's permit is more difficult to obtain after you leave the United States and can take up to 4 weeks - so if you're going to travel long-term, it might be wise.
You will now have an additional form of picture recognition during the journey. In my opinion you can never have enough! ★
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