An Australian international driving permit (IDP) is a translation of your Australian photo licence into nine languages, and it comes only from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) or one of its member clubs, for A$55 plus postage. If you came for the other meaning, a visitor driving in Australia, you drive on a valid overseas licence, and where it is not printed in English you carry a recognised English translation. This guide covers both readers, using the AAA, the Queensland government and the UK government's travel advice, read on 17 October 2026. It is not legal advice, and the Australian AAA is a different body from the American AAA described in the US international driving permit guide.
How to get an Australian international driving permit
The AAA says it and its member clubs are the only authorised distributors of IDPs for Australian licence holders, and tells you to beware of fraudulent competitors and third-party suppliers. RACQ says the same and adds that it is the AAA's only authorised sales agent in Queensland. You apply through the AAA site or through your state or territory club.
| Item | What the pages say |
|---|---|
| Permit | A$55 (RACQ shows A$55.00) |
| Postage within Australia | Express post A$11.75, registered post A$18.00 |
| Postage overseas | Express post A$56.90 |
| What it is | A translation of your domestic photo licence in nine languages chosen by the Australian Government: English, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Greek, German and Japanese |
| Format | A physical booklet in the format of the 1949 UN Convention on Road Traffic; no digital version |
| Valid | 12 months from the date of issue, or until your Australian licence card expires, whichever comes first |
| Delivery | Online orders within 3 to 5 business days |
The AAA FAQ adds that if you travel within five business days, a permit cannot be posted in time, so you apply at a branch of your state or territory club, where it can be issued straight away. If your licence expires during the permit year, renewing the licence keeps the permit valid.
What the AAA says it is for
The AAA lists three reasons to carry one. Most car rentals ask for a permit before you collect the car, and in some cases hire may be refused without one. After an accident, it says, you carry the permit and photo licence to show you are entitled to drive, and some insurers may not honour a claim without a permit. Some travel insurers may also not honour a policy if you had no IDP in a country that required one. These are the AAA's statements, not a legal requirement in every country. The AAA also says the permit is valid only together with your physical licence card, and that digital driver licences are not valid overseas.
What Queensland says about driving abroad is shorter: you are generally able to drive internationally, subject to the laws of the country you visit, with an international licence as well as your Queensland licence. It tells you to contact the driving authority in the country you plan to visit and adds that the department does not provide information on international licensing. For country rules, see the international driving permit guide and the Japan case, where only one type of permit is valid.
Visitors driving in Australia
Queensland's page says that if you are visiting you can drive with a valid interstate or overseas licence. On an overseas car licence you may drive the vehicles a Queensland class C licence allows, up to 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass with up to 12 people including the driver. You must stay within your licence conditions and show the licence to police when asked. If the licence is not in English, carry a recognised English translation and show it with the licence; the translators approved by the national accreditation body NAATI are listed.
That page is Queensland's. GOV.UK says road rules and the process for exchanging a UK licence vary by state, and lists the territory and state pages to check.
UK licence holders
GOV.UK's advice says you can use a UK photocard licence in Australia while you remain a temporary overseas visitor. A paper licence may need updating to a photocard or the 1949 version of the IDP as well. You must carry your licence and your passport while driving. If you plan to stay and hold a permanent visa, you can drive on your UK licence for up to 3 months and must get an Australian licence within that period. Hire companies often set stricter requirements, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and an IDP. How to get the UK permit is in how to get an international driving permit in the UK.
When you settle, the Queensland government says your overseas licence stops being valid in the state after 3 months of living there for an Australian citizen, and after 3 months with a resident visa for others; driving then risks a charge of unlicensed driving. Other states have their own pages.
What BlitzBuddy does
BlitzBuddy does not check or sell permits. It is free, with no ads and no subscription, and it is available for iPhone; the Android version is coming soon. Camera warnings run in five countries, and the law on speed camera apps explains where they are allowed. More permit and toll guides are under driving abroad.
Sources
- International Driving Permits, Australian Automobile Association
- Driving overseas, RACQ
- Driving in Queensland on an interstate or overseas licence, Queensland Government (page updated 19 February 2024)
- Driving interstate or overseas, Queensland Government (page updated 30 May 2023)
- Living in Australia, GOV.UK
- Australia travel advice: Safety and security, GOV.UK
Sources read on 17 October 2026 and checked again the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues an international driving permit in Australia?
The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) and its member clubs are the only authorised distributors for Australian licence holders, according to the AAA and RACQ. Both warn against fraudulent competitors and third-party suppliers.
How much is an Australian international driving permit?
The AAA shows A$55 plus postage. Within Australia, express post is A$11.75 and registered post A$18.00; overseas express post is A$56.90. The AAA says the permit is valid for 12 months from issue, or until your licence card expires if that is sooner.
Do I need an international driving permit to drive in Australia as a visitor?
Not if your licence is in English, on the pages read. Queensland says you can drive on a valid overseas licence, and if it is not in English you should carry a recognised English translation. GOV.UK says a UK paper licence may need the 1949 IDP.
Can I use a UK licence in Australia?
GOV.UK says a UK photocard licence can be used while you remain a temporary overseas visitor. A paper licence may need updating or the 1949 international driving permit. Rules differ by state and territory.
How long can I drive in Queensland on an overseas licence?
As a visitor, as long as the licence is valid. The Queensland government says that the authority is withdrawn for an Australian citizen after 3 months of living in the state, and for others who hold a resident visa and live there 3 months.
