We track the driving rules for 154 countries. 14 of them list an International Driving Permit as required, 139 recommend one, and China recognises none at all. Whether you need one, which format, and for how long depends on where your licence was issued and where you are going — each guide below answers one of those questions.
New to IDPs? Start with Do I need one?, then how to get one. For a specific destination, go straight to its country page.
How to get an International Driving Permit
How to get an International Driving Permit: the two routes, what you need, step-by-step, how far ahead to apply, and the mistakes that get drivers turned away.
What is an International Driving Permit?
What an International Driving Permit is: what is inside it, the vehicle categories, the two UN conventions and which countries follow each, and what an IDP is not.
Where to get an International Driving Permit
Where to get an International Driving Permit: why it depends on the country that issued your licence, the authorised US issuers, online options, and what to do if you are already abroad.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Do you need an International Driving Permit? The 14 countries that require one, the one that recognises none, and the four questions that decide it for your trip.
How much does an International Driving Permit cost?
International Driving Permit cost in 2026: the US issuer fee, online prices, what changes the price, the costs people forget, and the price signals that mean a scam.
IDP vs "international driving license" — what’s the difference?
IDP vs international driving license: why no standalone international licence exists, the three documents that do, when you need a local licence instead, and how sellers misuse the term.
Are online International Driving Permits real?
Are online International Driving Permits real? What a legitimate online document is and is not, the red flags that mark a scam, how to verify one, and when you need the home-issued booklet instead.
How long is an International Driving Permit valid?
How long an International Driving Permit lasts: what the 1949 and 1968 conventions set, why your national licence is the real limit, and the countries that cap how long a visitor may drive.