An International Driver's License (the correct term is "international driving permit", or IDP) is a document that allows you to drive a motor vehicle legally in 174 countries when it is accompanied by your valid US driver's license. It contains your name, photo and driver information. You are eligible for an IDL/IDP if you are a permanent US resident at least 18 years of age and have a driver's license that will remain valid for at least six months from the date of issuance of the IDP. An international driving permit may also be required or recommended by many rental car agencies. Here’s everything you need to know about this helpful document that will allow you to get behind the wheel on your perfect business trip or vacation.
Your IDL/IDP does not allow you to drive legally in every country, just in those countries that recognize it. Here's a full list of participating countries. Notably absent from this list is the People's Republic of China. (To drive legally in China, you must have a driver's license issued by China.)
If you are a permanent resident of the United States and have a driver's license issued in the United States, you can obtain your international driver's license (officially referred to as "international driving permit" or IDP) from either the AAA. To obtain an IDP from AAA, do the following: Complete the AAA IDP application. Visit your local AAA branch and bring the completed application; your valid US driver's license; two passport-sized photos of yourself; and cash, a check, or a credit card with which to pay the $20 fee. (However, some branches may not accept cash or certain credit cards, so you want to be sure you have a valid form of payment before you go.) Some AAA branches may also be able to take passport photos of you for an additional fee. Alternatively, you can obtain an IDP from AAA through the mail. Mail the completed application form to the address given here along with your two passport photos, photocopies of the front and back of your driver's license, a check or money order for the $20 permit fee, and if you wish, additional postage for your IDP to be sent via expedited mail.
