Iowa
IowaHow to get an International Driving Permit in Iowa
In short
Yes, in any country that requires an IDP for foreign drivers — your Iowa license alone is not enough there. The IDP is a translation of your Iowa license, carried together with it. Iowa license holders use the IDP as the companion document to their license wherever foreign drivers must carry one.
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City sit a long way from a staffed AAA IDP counter for many residents — branch coverage in Iowa varies and has been shrinking. The booklet can be issued against your Iowa license entirely online, which is the easy answer before a rental-car trip through Italy or a beach week in Mexico, since both require an IDP with a US license. The IDP itself is the multilingual translation of your existing license, issued in the official UN-convention format and carried alongside it.
Last reviewed June 2026
Iowa drivers — common questions
01
Do Iowa license holders need an International Driving Permit?
Yes, in any country that requires an IDP for foreign drivers — your Iowa license alone is not enough there. The IDP is a translation of your Iowa license, carried together with it. Iowa license holders use the IDP as the companion document to their license wherever foreign drivers must carry one.
02
Can I get an IDP in Iowa without going to AAA?
Yes — the whole application is online. Enter your Iowa license details, pay, and your digital IDP booklet is emailed to you in as fast as 8 minutes. No appointment and no branch visit.
03
Which convention covers Iowa licenses abroad?
Iowa licenses are issued in the United States, which is party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic — so your IDP is issued in the 1949 format recognized in most countries worldwide.
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