International Driving Permit USA

AAA and AATA are the only two organizations the US Department of State authorizes to issue a genuine International Driving Permit to US license holders, and Apply IDP Online prepares your IDP application fully online for either direction of travel.

• AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) are the two organizations the US Department of State has designated to issue IDPs to holders of a valid US driver's license.Commonly reported
• The Federal Trade Commission has warned that any other website claiming to sell or issue a legitimate International Driving Permit to a US license holder is not an authorized source.Commonly reported
• You need to be at least 18 years old and hold a valid, unexpired US driver's license to apply for an IDP.Commonly reported
• Foreign visitors driving in the United States need an IDP issued by an authorized body in their own home country — the United States does not issue IDPs to non-US license holders.Commonly reported
• The United States drives on the right, with the driver's seat on the left side of the vehicle.Commonly reported

Traffic law in the United States is set state by state, not nationally, so speed limits, phone laws, and IDP expectations can genuinely differ the moment you cross a state line.

• Some states, including Georgia, Massachusetts, and Tennessee, specifically expect visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their original license.Commonly reported
• Nearly every US rental company requires an IDP if your license isn't printed in the Roman alphabet, regardless of which state you're renting in.Commonly reported
• Most states let a visitor drive on a valid foreign license alone for a short stay, typically up to a few months, before other rules apply — this is set individually by each state's motor vehicle agency, not by federal law.Commonly reported
• Speed limits, right-turn-on-red rules, and handheld phone laws vary by state — check the specific states on your route rather than assuming one rule applies everywhere.Commonly reported
• Seatbelt and child-seat laws are enforced in every state, though the exact requirements and fines differ from state to state.Commonly reported

Car rental is straightforward for foreign visitors carrying an IDP in the US, and just as common for Americans renting abroad, who need their own AAA- or AATA-issued permit first.

• US rental companies commonly ask foreign visitors for a passport, a valid foreign license, and an IDP, especially if the license isn't in English.Commonly reported
• The minimum age to rent a car in the US is typically 21 to 25 depending on the company, with drivers under 25 often paying a young-renter surcharge.Commonly reported
• Renting a car abroad as a US citizen almost always requires the IDP itself alongside your original US license and a credit card in the main driver's name.Commonly reported
• Fuel, toll, and insurance policies differ by rental company on both sides of a trip — confirm coverage directly with your provider before driving off the lot.Commonly reported

Keep your original driver's license and your IDP together as your standard document set any time you're driving in the United States — that applies to visitors and returning residents alike.

• Your IDP and original license work as a pair — an officer or rental agent may ask to see both together.Commonly reported
• 911 reaches police, fire, and ambulance services anywhere in the United States.Commonly reported
• If you're stopped, keep your hands visible and tell the officer before reaching for your documents — standard guidance regardless of where your license was issued.Commonly reported

US citizens generally don't need an IDP to drive into Canada or Mexico on a short visit, which makes the two most common cross-border road trips from the US the two where an IDP actually matters least.

• Canada accepts a valid US driver's license alone for visitors, with no IDP required for a typical short stay.Commonly reported
• Mexico similarly allows US license holders to drive across the border on their original license for tourism, without requiring an IDP.Commonly reported
• An IDP still adds value even where it isn't required — it presents your license in a standardized format that's easier for border and rental staff unfamiliar with US state-issued licenses to verify.Commonly reported
• Rental cars picked up in the US often cannot be driven across the Canadian or Mexican border under the rental agreement — confirm this specifically with your provider before planning a cross-border route.Commonly reported