International Driving Permit – What Is the Need for the USA?

Petr Novák

If you plan to rent a car abroad, the driver should carry an international driver’s license. While most rental car companies and police officers accept a European driver’s license, it’s not always dependable. A friend of mine, for instance, didn’t carry his international driver’s license and was denied a rental car in Hawaii.

International Driving Permit – What Is the Need for the USA? | © Petr Novák

  1. Table of Contents
    1. International Driving Permit FAQs 2024
    2. International Driving License in Different Countries

    International Driving Permit FAQs 2024

    What Are the Requirements for an International Driving Permit?

    The applicant must submit a completed application form, a valid driving license, valid proof of identity, one ID photo, and pay a fee to the office.

    How Long Does It Take to Issue an International Driving License?

    Provided everything is in order, the office will issue your license on the spot. However, you must collect your license from the office in person; it cannot be sent by post.

    What Is the Validity of an International Driving License?

    The International Driving Permit’s validity under the Geneva Convention is 1 year, while a Vienna Convention driving license is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. It’s only valid if you also present your national driving license (plastic card with the EU logo on the top left of the front).

    How Do I Get an International Driver’s License in the USA?

    You cannot obtain an international driver’s license issued by your country in the USA. The document is not issued abroad and you must visit the office in person to acquire it.
  2. International Driving License in Different Countries

    What Kind of International Driver’s License Should I Apply for When Traveling to the USA?

    The office staff can advise you. However, for travel to the USA, you need an International Driving Permit in accordance with the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 19 September 1949. The required driving license for other countries can be determined using the map above.

    Is an International Driving License Needed When Travelling in Europe?

    To drive in all countries of the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and the UK, a standard EU license will suffice.

    International Driving Licenses Recognized in Each Country

    Country Driving License
    🇦🇱 Albania Vienna, Geneva
    🇩🇿 Algeria Geneva
    🇦🇷 Argentina Geneva
    🇦🇲 Armenia Vienna
    🇦🇺 Australia Geneva
    🇦🇹 Austria EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Vienna
    🇧🇸 Bahamas Vienna
    🇧🇭 Bahrain Vienna
    🇧🇩 Bangladesh Geneva
    🇧🇧 Barbados Geneva
    🇧🇾 Belarus Vienna
    🇧🇪 Belgium EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇧🇯 Benin Vienna, Geneva
    🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Vienna
    🇧🇼 Botswana Geneva
    🇧🇷 Brazil Vienna
    🇧🇳 Brunei Geneva
    🇧🇬 Bulgaria EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇧🇫 Burkina Faso Geneva
    🇰🇭 Cambodia Geneva
    🇨🇦 Canada Geneva
    🇨🇻 Cape Verde Vienna
    🇨🇫 Central African Republic Vienna, Geneva
    🇨🇬 Congo Geneva
    🇨🇷 Costa Rica Vienna
    🇭🇷 Croatia EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇨🇺 Cuba Vienna, Geneva
    🇨🇾 Cyprus EU Driving Licence, Geneva
    🇨🇿 Czech Republic EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of Congo Vienna, Geneva
    🇩🇰 Denmark EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇩🇴 Dominican Republic Geneva
    🇪🇨 Ecuador Vienna, Geneva
    🇪🇬 Egypt Geneva
    🇪🇪 Estonia EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇪🇹 Ethiopia Geneva
    🇫🇯 Fiji Geneva
    🇫🇮 Finland EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇫🇷 France EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇬🇪 Georgia Vienna, Geneva
    🇩🇪 Germany EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇬🇭 Ghana Vienna, Geneva
    🇬🇷 Greece EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇬🇹 Guatemala Geneva
    🇬🇾 Guyana Vienna
    🇭🇹 Haiti Geneva
    🇭🇳 Honduras Vienna
    🇭🇰 Hong Kong Geneva
    🇭🇺 Hungary EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇨🇱 Chile Vienna, Geneva
    🇮🇸 Iceland EU Driving Licence, Geneva
    🇮🇳 India Geneva
    🇮🇩 Indonesia Vienna
    🇮🇷 Iran Vienna
    🇮🇶 Iraq Vienna
    🇮🇪 Ireland EU Driving Licence, Geneva
    🇮🇱 Israel Vienna, Geneva
    🇮🇹 Italy EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇨🇮 Ivory Coast Vienna, Geneva
    🇯🇲 Jamaica Geneva
    🇯🇵 Japan Geneva
    🇯🇴 Jordan Geneva
    🇰🇿 Kazakhstan Vienna
    🇰🇪 Kenya Vienna
    🇰🇼 Kuwait Vienna
    🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan Vienna, Geneva
    🇱🇦 Laos Geneva
    🇱🇻 Latvia EU Driving Licence, Vienna
    🇱🇧 Lebanon Geneva
    🇱🇸 Lesotho Geneva
    🇱🇷 Liberia Vienna
    🇱🇮 Liechtenstein EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇱🇹 Lithuania EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇱🇺 Luxembourg EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇲🇬 Madagascar Geneva
    🇲🇼 Malawi Geneva
    🇲🇾 Malaysia Geneva
    🇲🇱 Mali Geneva
    🇲🇹 Malta EU Driving Licence, Geneva
    🇲🇽 Mexico Vienna
    🇲🇩 Moldova Vienna
    🇲🇨 Monaco EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇲🇳 Mongolia Vienna
    🇲🇪 Montenegro Vienna, Geneva
    🇲🇦 Morocco Vienna, Geneva
    🇲🇲 Myanmar Vienna
    🇳🇦 Namibia Geneva
    🇳🇵 Nepal Vienna, Geneva
    🇳🇱 Netherlands EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇳🇿 New Zealand Geneva
    🇳🇪 Niger Vienna, Geneva
    🇳🇬 Nigeria Vienna, Geneva
    🇲🇰 Northern Macedonia Vienna
    🇳🇴 Norway EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇴🇲 Oman Vienna
    🇵🇰 Pakistan Vienna
    🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea Geneva
    🇵🇾 Paraguay Geneva
    🇵🇪 Peru Vienna, Geneva
    🇵🇭 Philippines Vienna, Geneva
    🇵🇱 Poland EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇵🇹 Portugal EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇶🇦 Qatar Vienna
    🇷🇴 Romania EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇷🇺 Russia Vienna, Geneva
    🇷🇼 Rwanda Geneva
    🇸🇲 San Marino EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Vienna
    🇸🇳 Senegal Vienna, Geneva
    🇬🇧 Serbia Vienna, Geneva
    🇸🇨 Seychelles Vienna
    🇸🇱 Sierra Leone Geneva
    🇸🇬 Singapore Geneva
    🇸🇰 Slovakia EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇸🇮 Slovenia EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇿🇦 South Africa Vienna, Geneva
    🇰🇷 South Korea Vienna, Geneva
    🇪🇸 Spain EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Geneva
    🇸🇪 Sweden EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇨🇭 Switzerland EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇸🇾 Syria Geneva
    🇹🇼 Taiwan Vienna, Geneva
    🇹🇯 Tajikistan Vienna
    🇹🇭 Thailand Vienna, Geneva
    🇹🇬 Togo Geneva
    🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago Geneva
    🇹🇳 Tunisia Vienna, Geneva
    🇹🇷 Turkey Vienna, Geneva
    🇹🇲 Turkmenistan Vienna
    🇺🇬 Uganda Geneva
    🇺🇦 Ukraine Vienna
    🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates Vienna, Geneva
    🇬🇧 United Kingdom EU Driving Licence, Vienna, Geneva
    🇺🇾 Uruguay Vienna
    🇺🇸 USA Geneva
    🇺🇿 Uzbekistan Vienna
    🇻🇪 Venezuela Vienna, Geneva
    🇻🇳 Vietnam Vienna
    🇿🇼 Zimbabwe Vienna, Geneva

💬 What are your experiences with needing an international driver’s license in different countries around the world? Share your experiences in the discussion, we’d be delighted to hear them. 😊

Discussion (1)

Romania and USA are both 1949 Geneva Convention, and both countries recognized each other Driver License and the right of driving on each other road. I want to know if I go to Romania with US driver license do I need to care an International Driving Permit and if is yes, which article is referring to obligation to care an IDP. Thank you for the attention.

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