Do You Need an International Driving Permit in Europe? Country-by-Country Guide 2026

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Last Updated: November 2026

If you’re a non-EU driver planning to rent or drive a car in Europe, you may need an International Driving Permit (IDP), a standardized translation of your driver’s license issued under a UN road traffic convention. Whether you need one depends on your license and your destination, so check whether your license needs an International Driving Permit before you drive. IDPs are issued in the country that issued your license, so arrange one before you leave home. Our country guides, such as Italy and Austria, cover other travel rules.

What Is an International Driving Permit?

An International Driving Permit is a booklet that translates your driver’s license details into several languages. It is not a license. It supplements your existing license, so carry both whenever you drive. GOV.UK says to always carry your license with your IDP.

IDPs are issued under UN road traffic conventions. GOV.UK lists three IDP types, 1926, 1949 and 1968, and assigns one type to each destination in its country table.

The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. AAA says its IDPs are issued under this convention, and NRMA cites it for Australian permits.

The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. GOV.UK lists most European destinations under the 1968 type.

Two things apply in practice. First, an IDP does not replace your license, so carry your original license with it. Second, IDPs are issued in the country that issued your license: AAA issues them only to holders of a valid US driver’s license, and GOV.UK requires a full UK driving license and residence in Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Arrange yours before you leave home.

Which European Countries Require an IDP?

IDP requirements vary by destination country and by the license you hold. Driving licenses issued by EU member states are mutually recognized (Directive 2006/126/EC, Article 2). For everyone else, check the destination’s rules before you drive. Use our Europe Travel Planner to check entry requirements for your destinations.

Check whether your license needs an International Driving Permit before you drive. Rules differ by country and by license, and they change. Ask the embassy or road authority of the country you will drive in, your IDP issuer and your rental company.

How to Check Your Destination

• Ask the embassy or road authority of the country you will drive in whether your license is accepted and for how long.
• Ask your IDP issuer (AAA in the US, CAA in Canada, GOV.UK for UK drivers, or your state motoring club in Australia).
• Read your rental company’s terms. Some companies ask for an IDP even where the law may not require one.
• Check your insurance policy and rental agreement for conditions about licensing.

IDP Types: 1926, 1949 and 1968

GOV.UK lists three IDP types, 1926, 1949 and 1968, and says which type each destination is listed under. Check the type your destination is listed under, and ask your issuer which type you will receive.

Type	Validity (UK-issued, per GOV.UK)
1926	12 months
1949	12 months
1968	3 years, or until your UK driving license expires, whichever comes first

If you hold a US, Canadian or Australian license, AAA says its IDPs are issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and NRMA cites the 1949 Convention for Australian permits. CAA’s page does not name a convention. Check with the country you will drive in whether it accepts the permit you hold.

If you hold a UK license, use the GOV.UK country checker to find which type your destination is listed under.

How to Get an International Driving Permit

The key rule: you must get your IDP before you leave home. You cannot obtain one after you arrive at your destination.

🇺🇸 United States: AAA ($20)

AAA lists the permit fee as $20 (AAA). Online orders add a $10 passport photo fee plus shipping. AAA says its IDPs are issued under the “Convention on Road Traffic, United Nations, Geneva 1949” and describes itself as “one of two official organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs”. AAA issues IDPs only to holders of a valid US driver’s license, and not more than 6 months before the effective date. Two passport photos are needed for in-person and mail applications. Check AAA for current application options and timing.

🇨🇦 Canada: CAA ($32 CAD)

CAA lists the fee as $32 CAD as of 1 December 2025, and says fees vary by province (CAA). You must be 18 or over with a provincial or territorial driver’s license. The permit is valid for one year or until your license expires. CAA says an in-person application usually takes less than an hour, and a mailed application takes about two working days after CAA receives it, plus shipping time. Online applications are available only in some areas. Check CAA for what to bring, including any photos.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom: PayPoint shops (£5.50)

GOV.UK says you can get an IDP in person from certain shops that have PayPoint, and lists the fee as £5.50 (GOV.UK). You must be 18 or over, live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland and hold a full UK driving license. GOV.UK says 1926 and 1949 permits last 12 months, and 1968 permits last 3 years or until your UK driving license expires, whichever comes first. Use the GOV.UK country checker to see which type your destination is listed under. GOV.UK says not to apply for an IDP if you are moving abroad.

🇦🇺 Australia: NRMA and other motoring clubs ($55 AUD)

NRMA, an authorized sales agent, says the Australian Automobile Association is the only authorized issuer in Australia (NRMA). The fee is $55 AUD (GST free) plus postage. The permit is valid for 12 months from issue, or until your Australian license expires if that is sooner. You must be 18 or over with a provisional or full license (not a learner license). NRMA says delivery to an Australian address takes 3 to 5 working days, and cites the 1949 Convention. Check your state motoring club for how to apply.

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Check the Automobile Association (AA) New Zealand for the current fee, validity and how to apply.

Other countries: Contact your national automobile association or transport authority to find your country’s authorized IDP issuer.

Renting a Car in Europe Without an IDP

The rental counter and the law don’t always agree. Rental companies set their own terms, and some ask for an IDP even where the law may not require one. GOV.UK tells UK drivers hiring a car to check whether the hire company says they need an IDP. Being turned away at the counter is possible, so confirm the terms before you book.

Penalties for driving without a document a country requires are set by that country. Your rental or travel insurance may also have conditions about licensing, so read your policy and rental agreement and carry the documents they list.

Tips for Driving in Europe

Which Side of the Road?

Most of Europe drives on the right. The exceptions are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus, all of which drive on the left. If you’re crossing between right-hand and left-hand drive countries, be especially careful in the first hour after the switch. Roundabouts, highway merges, and parking lots are where drivers most commonly revert to habit.

Toll Roads and Vignettes

Vignette countries require a time-based pass before you use motorways, and fines can be steep. Countries that use vignettes include Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. Check the official operator for your route.

Toll countries charge by distance or by road section. Examples include France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Greece. Payment methods differ, so check before you go.

Some countries have no general motorway tolls for passenger cars, such as Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, though specific bridges or tunnels can charge. Rules change, so check before you go.

Speed Limits

Limits differ by country and road type, so follow local signs. A common pattern is 50 km/h in towns and around 120 to 130 km/h on motorways, with varying limits on rural roads. Some sections of the German autobahn have no general limit, with 130 km/h recommended. The UK uses miles per hour. Speed cameras are widespread, and many are automated.

Low Emission Zones

Many European cities restrict vehicle access based on emissions. Examples include France’s Crit’Air sticker, German Umweltzonen (green sticker) and London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone. Check the rules for your route, and ask your rental company whether the vehicle carries any required sticker.

Alcohol Limits

Drink-drive limits differ by country, and some countries set a lower limit or zero tolerance for certain drivers. The safest approach is not to drink if you are driving. Check the local limit before you go.

Roundabouts

Roundabouts are more common in much of Europe than in North America. In most countries you give way to traffic already in the roundabout unless signs say otherwise. Signal your exit, choose your lane early and follow local signs.

IDP for Motorcycles and Scooters

An IDP translates the details of your existing license, so the vehicle categories on your license are what matter. If your license does not cover motorcycles, check before renting a scooter, because the rental company or insurer may refuse to rent or to pay a claim. This is worth checking for small rented scooters in places such as Italy or Greece.

Frequently Asked Questions

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. IDP requirements can change — always verify with official government sources before traveling. Last updated: November 2026.