International Driving Permit

A license translated into nine languages, and the countries that actually check for it.

An International Driving Permit is a certified translation of a valid driver's license, not a license of its own — it exists so a foreign officer or rental clerk can read what they're looking at. This page covers what it actually does, which destinations require one by law versus which ones just tend to ask for it at the rental counter, how to get one in the US through AAA, and what happens if you skip it where it's required. For which rental companies operate at each destination, see Worldwide Car Rental.

What it is Countries by requirement Getting one Renting without one
Worldwide car rental
What an IDP Actually Is
Not a license
It's a certified translation of a valid driver's license into up to nine languages, issued under the 1949 Geneva Road Traffic Convention — so a foreign officer or rental clerk can read what they're looking at.
Only valid with the real thing
An IDP carries no photo-verified driving record of its own. It has to be shown together with the license it translates — never as a stand-alone document.
Good for one year
A US permit expires exactly a year after it's issued, tied to the license it translates — a renewed license needs a new permit, even mid-year.
Countries That Require One

This covers commonly researched destinations — not a complete global list. Requirements change and enforcement varies by rental counter as well as by law, so confirm current rules before you travel.

AustraliaRequired by law
Required alongside a foreign license; state road authorities and rental counters both check for it.
AustriaRequired by law
Required for any license issued outside the EU/EEA, carried together with the original license.
BulgariaRequired by law
Required alongside a non-EU license for both driving and car rental.
Czech RepublicRequired by law
Required for a non-EU/EEA license; police and rental desks both ask for it.
EstoniaRequired by law
Required alongside a non-EU/EEA license.
GermanyRequired by law
Checked at every rental counter for a non-EU/EEA license; driving without one is treated as driving unlicensed.
GreeceRequired by law
Required for a non-EU license, and enforced at rental counters across the country.
ItalyRequired by law
Required alongside a foreign license for anyone from outside the EU; police and rental counters both check.
JapanRequired by law
Only the 1949 Geneva Convention format is recognized — a US-issued permit is this format, so a US license qualifies. A foreign license alone is refused.
PolandRequired by law
Required alongside a non-EU/EEA license.
RomaniaRequired by law
Required alongside a non-EU/EEA license.
SerbiaRequired by law
Required for non-EU licenses; checked at both police stops and rental counters.
SlovakiaRequired by law
Required alongside a non-EU/EEA license.
SloveniaRequired by law
Required alongside a non-EU/EEA license.
SpainRequired by law
Required alongside a non-EU/EEA license; rental counters check it on pickup.
ThailandRequired by law
Required for foreign licenses; rental agencies and traffic police both check for it.
HungaryOften required
Hungarian law asks for a certified Hungarian translation of a foreign license — an IDP satisfies that, so it functions as a practical must-have even though it isn't named directly.
IndonesiaOften required
Accepted only as a physical 1-year booklet alongside a valid license — a digital copy is not recognized, and rental agencies commonly ask for one.
MexicoOften required
Not legally required for a short tourist stay with a valid US license, but useful if the license isn't in the Latin alphabet or its format is unfamiliar to a local officer.
PortugalOften required
Not legally required for a stay under six months with a valid US license, but several rental counters still ask for one, and it helps at a police stop or after an accident.
Getting One in the US
1
Qualify
18 or older, valid US license
No exam, no photo test — the permit is a translation, not a new driving qualification.
2
Gather
2 passport photos, signed on back
2"×2", identical, plus the $20 permit fee for an in-person application.
3
Get it
Same-day at a AAA branch
1,000+ branches, no AAA membership required. Applying online instead adds a $10 photo fee and about 5 business days plus shipping. AATA is the only other authorized US issuer.
Renting a Car Without One
A missing IDP can mean a denied rental, even with a confirmed reservation. Where the destination legally requires one, the counter is checking for it on pickup — a US license alone isn't enough. In a country where local law doesn't require it, many international rental chains still ask for one as their own house policy, so "not legally required" is no guarantee of an easy pickup. Driving without a required IDP also puts insurance coverage at risk if you're stopped or in an accident — it can be treated the same as driving without a valid license. For which companies operate where, see Worldwide Car Rental.
Sources

Requirements above are drawn from AAA's International Driving Permit program and each destination's own published driving rules. Requirements and enforcement change, and a rental counter's own policy can be stricter than local law — confirm current rules with the destination's embassy or your rental company before you travel.