Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Germany?Rule for all foreign drivers
Visitors may drive on a valid non-EU/EEA licence. If it is not in German, carry an IDP or a German translation. No translation is needed for licences from EU/EEA countries, Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Senegal and Switzerland. New residents can drive on it for 6 months.
- Licence alone is enough if: in German, or issued by a country on the translation-exempt list
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rule for all foreign drivers
Visitors may drive on a valid non-EU/EEA licence. If it is not in German, carry an IDP or a German translation. No translation is needed for licences from EU/EEA countries, Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Senegal and Switzerland. New residents can drive on it for 6 months.
- Licence alone is enough if: in German, or issued by a country on the translation-exempt list
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Germany
Visitors may drive on a valid non-EU/EEA licence. If it is not in German, carry an IDP or a German translation. No translation is needed for licences from EU/EEA countries, Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Senegal and Switzerland. New residents can drive on it for 6 months.
- Licence alone is enough if: in German, or issued by a country on the translation-exempt list
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
- IDP format accepted: 1968
- How long a visitor can drive: While a visitor; new residents 6 months
- Exception for licences from Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Senegal and Switzerland: No translation or IDP needed
Source: German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV) (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Which IDP version Germany accepts
Germany is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, not the 1949 Geneva Convention, so it recognises the 1968 IDP.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 3 August 1978) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Germany
Ask for the 1968 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1968 IDP). In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
No IDP needed with a UK licence for up to 6 months or an EU/EEA licence. The US and Canadian advice does not say.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.Valid for up to 6 months. Longer stays: 1968 IDP plus UK licence.Source: UK FCDO, updated 11 August 2026
US licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: US Department of State, updated 12 May 2025
Canadian licence holdersNot stated in the advice, check the source.Source: Government of Canada, updated 9 October 2026- EU/EEA licence holdersEU/EEA licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can drive in Germany for up to 6 months with your UK photocard driving licence. If you stay longer, you’ll need to have both the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Germany, updated 11 August 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Germany with a foreign licence?
Visitors may drive on a valid non-EU/EEA licence. If it is not in German, carry an IDP or a German translation. No translation is needed for licences from EU/EEA countries, Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Senegal and Switzerland. New residents can drive on it for 6 months. Source: German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV).
How long can a visitor drive in Germany?
While a visitor; new residents 6 months. Source: German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV).
Can I drive in Germany with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Germany is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (ratified 3 August 1978), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Germany with a 1949 IDP?
No. Germany is not a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so a 1949 IDP is not valid here. Germany recognises the 1968 IDP.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Germany?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in Germany for up to 6 months. Longer stays: 1968 IDP plus UK licence. Source: UK FCDO, updated 11 August 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Germany?
The US Department of State advice does not say. Source: US Department of State, updated 12 May 2025.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Germany?
The Government of Canada advice does not say. Source: Government of Canada, updated 9 October 2026.
Do EU licence holders need an IDP in Germany?
No. An EU/EEA driving licence is recognised in Germany. Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC.
How long can I drive in Germany with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 11 August 2026): “You can drive in Germany for up to 6 months with your UK photocard driving licence.”
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in Austria?
- Do I need an IDP in France?
- Do I need an IDP in the Netherlands?
- Do I need an IDP in Poland?
- How to get citizenship of Germany
Sources and methodology
- German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV): rules for foreign drivers in Germany (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Germany. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Germany. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Germany. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- Your Europe (European Union): recognition of driving licences, Directive 2006/126/EC.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above were checked by hand against the government text on 9 November 2026. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.