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International Driving Permit
Driving abroad? Get your IDP from RAC
If you're planning to drive a car abroad you'll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) for certain countries. This is in addition to your UK driving licence - which you also need to take with you if you're driving and/or hiring a car abroad.
To be eligible for an IDP you must:
- Have a full UK driving licence (not provisional) covering the type of vehicle you're planning to drive abroad - be a permanent resident of the UK
- Be 18 or over.
You can't get an IDP with a foreign driving licence unless it's an EU driving licence and you're resident in Great Britain.
What you need to know about getting an IDP:
- An IDP is valid for 1 year.
- You can only get an IDP 3 months in advance of needing it.
- You can't get an IDP issued retrospectively.
- There are 2 types of IDP (1949 and 1926) depending on which countries you visit (see list of countries) - RAC can issue both.
Get an IDP
Got a question?
Additional questions
- How do I get an IDP? Download the …
Download the form and send it to us with the relevant documents listed below. Please allow up to 10 days for your IDP to arrive.
- Which countries do I need an IDP for? See the list of …
See the list of countries and the special conditions
- What if I need to make a change to my UK driving licence? Get in touch with …
Get in touch with the DVLA in Swansea (or DVLNI in Coleraine, Northern Ireland).
- Driving licence issued in Guernsey? Contact Guernsey States …
Contact Guernsey States Traffic Committee: 01481 243 400