Rule for all foreign drivers
Rules depend on the state. Some states require an IDP with your foreign licence, others do not. Check the motor vehicle department of each state you will drive in. The US does not issue IDPs to visitors.
- Licence alone is enough if: depends on the state
- Otherwise you need: Depends on the state or province
Source: USA.gov (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rule for all foreign drivers
Rules depend on the state. Some states require an IDP with your foreign licence, others do not. Check the motor vehicle department of each state you will drive in. The US does not issue IDPs to visitors.
- Licence alone is enough if: depends on the state
- Otherwise you need: Depends on the state or province
Source: USA.gov (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Rules for all foreign drivers in the United States
Rules depend on the state. Some states require an IDP with your foreign licence, others do not. Check the motor vehicle department of each state you will drive in. The US does not issue IDPs to visitors.
- Licence alone is enough if: depends on the state
- Otherwise you need: Depends on the state or province
- IDP format accepted: 1949
- How long a visitor can drive: Varies by state
Source: USA.gov (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
Which IDP version the United States accepts
The United States is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, not the 1968 Vienna Convention, so it recognises the 1949 IDP.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (ratified 30 August 1950) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Not a party |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for the United States
Ask for the 1949 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1949 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
An IDP is recommended for UK licence holders.
UK licence holdersIDP recommended. Version mentioned: 1949 IDP.A 1949 IDP may be needed; rules vary by state.Source: UK FCDO, updated 30 October 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersNot covered by this source.
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 use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the US. You may need to get the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. … You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for the United States, updated 30 October 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in the United States with a foreign licence?
Rules depend on the state. Some states require an IDP with your foreign licence, others do not. Check the motor vehicle department of each state you will drive in. The US does not issue IDPs to visitors. Source: USA.gov.
How long can a visitor drive in the United States?
Varies by state. Source: USA.gov.
Can I drive in the United States with a 1968 IDP?
No. The United States is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, so a 1968 IDP is not valid here. The United States recognises the 1949 IDP.
Can I drive in the United States with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. The United States is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (ratified 30 August 1950), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in the United States?
Recommended, not strictly required. Version mentioned: 1949 IDP. A 1949 IDP may be needed; rules vary by state. Source: UK FCDO, updated 30 October 2026.
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 Canada?
- Do I need an IDP in Mexico?
- How to get citizenship of the United States
Sources and methodology
- USA.gov: rules for foreign drivers in the United States (official source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for the United States. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- 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.