Why do I need an IDP?
Your licence is valid at home — but abroad, nobody may be able to read it. Here is what an International Driving Permit translation does for you.
What an IDP actually is
An International Driving Permit is a multilingual translation of the driving licence you already hold. It restates your name, your licence number, and the vehicle categories you are entitled to drive in several widely spoken languages, so officials and rental staff abroad can read your credentials without having to interpret an unfamiliar document.
It is a translation, not a licence. It grants you no driving entitlement of its own and it never replaces your domestic licence — it simply makes the licence you already have legible to someone who does not read your language.
Four reasons drivers get one
Rental counters ask for it
Most international car hire desks want to read your licence details in a language their staff and insurers understand before they hand over the keys.
Roadside checks in another language
If you are stopped abroad, an officer may not read the alphabet your licence is printed in. A multilingual translation lets them check your details without guesswork.
Border crossings and longer stays
Crossing a land border or staying for a longer trip often means showing your driving documents more than once, to people who have never seen a licence from your country.
Sorted before you fly
Applying online takes minutes, and your digital copy arrives by email after verification — so it is done long before you are standing at the rental desk.
Always carry both documents
An IDP is only meaningful alongside the licence it translates. Carry your valid domestic driving licence and your permit together, every time you drive. Presented on its own, a permit is not accepted as proof that you may drive.
Where you will need one
Requirements differ by country, and some destinations recognise only a printed booklet while others also accept a digital copy. Check your destination before you book anything.
One important clarification
IDPA is a private translation service, not a government body. We prepare high-quality multilingual translations of your existing driving licence. We do not issue official government International Driving Permits, and our documents do not replace your legal domestic driving licence. Acceptance is always decided by the local authorities, rental agencies, and police of the country you are visiting.
Ready to drive abroad with peace of mind?
Get your official International Driving Permit translation in minutes.