Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Greece?We have not yet checked Greece’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
We have not yet checked Greece’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Greece
We have not yet checked Greece’s own rules for foreign licences.
Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Which IDP version Greece accepts
Greece is a party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Convention, so both IDP formats are recognised.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 1 July 1952) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 18 December 1986) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Greece
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 photocard licence or an EU/EEA licence. US licence holders need an IDP.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.With a photocard licence.Source: UK FCDO, updated 3 November 2026
US licence holdersIDP required.It is required by Greek law even if the rental company does not ask.Source: US Department of State, updated 22 October 2025
Canadian licence holdersNot covered by this source.- 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
Provisional licenses are not valid in Greece for driving or hiring any type of vehicle. … Category P, which is valid in the UK for driving mopeds up to 50cc, is not valid in Greece. … If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Greece, updated 3 November 2026. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
Short-term Car Rentals: Greek law requires that visitors carry a valid U.S. driver’s license and an international driver’s permit (IDP), even if the rental company does not request to see your IDP. The Embassy does not issue IDPs. You must obtain your IDP in the United States from the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA).
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Greece, updated 22 October 2025. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Greece with a foreign licence?
We have not yet checked Greece’s own rules for foreign licences. Both the 1949 and 1968 IDP are recognised.
Can I drive in Greece with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. Greece is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (acceded 18 December 1986), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in Greece with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. Greece is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (acceded 1 July 1952), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Greece?
No. A UK photocard driving licence is accepted in Greece. Source: UK FCDO, updated 3 November 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Greece?
Yes. It is required by Greek law even if the rental company does not ask. Source: US Department of State, updated 22 October 2025.
Do EU licence holders need an IDP in Greece?
No. An EU/EEA driving licence is recognised in Greece. Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC.
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 Turkey?
- Do I need an IDP in Albania?
- Do I need an IDP in North Macedonia?
- Do I need an IDP in Bulgaria?
- How to get citizenship of Greece
Sources and methodology
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Greece. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Greece. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- 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.