Is an International Driving Permit Legally Required?
When an International Driving Permit is legally required to drive abroad, and when it is strongly recommended.
Countries where an IDP is required
Many countries — including Italy, Spain, Greece, Brazil, Thailand and the UAE — require foreign drivers to carry an IDP alongside their national licence.
Our country directory shows the exact requirement for each destination.
Rental companies almost always want one
Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, Budget, National, Sixt, Avis, Europcar and Localiza require an IDP when your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet.
Arriving without one can mean a refused rental and a lost deposit.
FAQ
Daniel leads the country research behind every International Driving Permit guide on this site. He has spent the past six years documenting cross-border driving requirements — which destinations follow the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which apply the 1968 Vienna Convention, and what that means in practice at a rental counter or a police checkpoint.
Reviewed by Sofia LindqvistOur editorial policy →Your permit is minutes away
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