IDP vs "international driving license" — what’s the difference?
People search for an "international driving license", but no standalone international licence exists. What they almost always mean is the International Driving Permit (IDP). The difference is more than wording: it decides what you can legally do with the document, and it's the gap scam sites exploit.
Three documents that do exist
- Your national driving licence — the only thing that gives you the right to drive. It is issued by your own country.
- An International Driving Permit — a translation of that licence, in the format of the UN road-traffic conventions. It grants nothing on its own.
- A local licence — issued by the country you live in once you become resident, usually by exchanging your licence or passing a local test.
An "international driving licence" isn't a fourth document. It's an informal name for the second one.
Why the term matters
Because an IDP is a translation, it is only ever valid alongside your national licence, and only while that licence is valid. Any document described as letting you drive instead of your licence, or without one, is not an IDP — and an officer will treat it accordingly.
When you need a local licence instead
Visitor rules don't last forever. Many countries let a visitor drive on a foreign licence (with an IDP where required) only for a set period:
| Country | Visitor limit | IDP |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 6 months | required |
| Costa Rica | 90 days | recommended |
| Philippines | 90 days | recommended |
| Singapore | 12 months | required |
| Hong Kong | 12 months | recommended |
| Qatar | six months | required |
| South Korea | one year | recommended |
| Dominican Republic | 90 days | recommended |
| Jamaica | 12 months | recommended |
| Panama | 90 days | recommended |
If you're moving rather than visiting, plan to exchange your licence or take a local test. An IDP won't extend a visitor period.
How sellers misuse the term
- Offering an "international licence" to people who have no licence.
- Claiming it replaces a suspended or expired national licence.
- Calling it a "government" or "official" licence.
- Promising acceptance in every country — China recognises no IDP at all.
What you actually need
For a trip abroad: your valid national licence, plus an IDP or certified translation where your destination or rental company asks for one, plus your passport. Get your translation online, and check the rule for your destination on its country page.
Frequently asked questions
Is an IDP the same as an international driving licence?
In everyday speech people mean the same thing, but technically the IDP is a translation of your national licence, not a licence itself.
Can an IDP let me drive without a national licence?
No. It is only valid alongside a current national driver’s licence.
Can I get an international licence if my licence is suspended?
No. An IDP depends entirely on a valid national licence; it cannot stand in for a suspended or expired one.
Get your International Driving Permit online
Apply on your phone — same-day digital delivery, with an optional posted booklet.
Get my IDP →Related guides
Reviewed 1 November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Driving rules and IDP acceptance change and vary by country, region and nationality — always confirm current requirements with the official transport authority or embassy before you travel.