An international driving permit (IDP) for a US licence holder comes from one of two organisations, the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA), both authorised by the US Department of State according to USAGov. USAGov says it translates your identifying information into different languages, is valid for one year and cannot be renewed. The same search also brings up the opposite question: whether a visitor needs an IDP to drive in the US, and the short answer there is that it depends on the state. This guide covers both, with the AAA fee and steps, and what the sources say about visitors, as read on 17 October 2026. It is not legal advice.
Two questions behind one search
Searches for an international driving permit in the USA mix two readers. One holds a US licence and is flying to Europe, Asia or elsewhere. The other holds a licence from another country and is landing in the US. The two do not share a route: AAA says it issues permits only to holders of a valid US licence, and that a permit to go with a US licence can only be issued in the USA. Which of the two you are decides which section below to read.
Who issues an international driving permit in the USA
USAGov names the two organisations authorised by the US Department of State, and AAA describes itself on its permit page as "one of two official organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs". USAGov says to carry both the IDP and your driver's licence abroad. It says an IDP is valid for one year and cannot be renewed, and it warns that many other websites claiming to issue international licences or permits are fraudulent and may try to take money or personal information. For an IDP you need a valid US licence. AAA says a person with a licence issued by a US territory such as Guam, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands also applies in the USA.
The two sources describe the permit a little differently. USAGov says an IDP allows you to drive legally in another country. AAA's FAQ, in a passage on expired licences, calls it only a translation of the licence, not a licence to drive. Either way, it is carried with your US licence, never instead of it.
What AAA asks for
| Route | What you provide | Cost shown by AAA | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Signed application, a digital passport photo taken on a phone, photos of both sides of your licence | US$20 permit fee, US$10 photo fee, shipping | 5 business days plus return shipping |
| In person at a AAA branch | Application, two original passport photos, valid US licence | US$20 permit fee (plus sales tax where it applies) | For 7 business days or less, AAA points you to a branch |
| By mail | Application, two original passport photos signed on the back, photocopy of both sides of the licence | US$20 permit fee, optional extra for faster return mail | Not stated |
Permits are printed and mailed; digital versions are not available. AAA says to call the branch first to check that it offers IDP services. A permit may not be issued more than six months before the date you want it to start. For AATA, USAGov says the application is completed online with a passport photo and a US driver's licence, and AATA's own steps page lists a digital passport photo, photos of the front and back of the licence and the application form. This guide gives no AATA fee, because none was on the pages read.
Do you need one?
USAGov says US citizens visiting Canada and Mexico do not need an IDP, that many other countries require one, and that you check the destination's page on the State Department website for its driver's licence rules. AAA adds, in its FAQ, that a hire company in the destination country can ask for an IDP even where the law does not, so buying one before departure can save trouble.
AAA also publishes its own list of countries that it says honour the permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, as of August 2026. It includes France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Türkiye (listed as Turkey); Germany appears with an asterisk meaning the country is not party to the 1949 convention but honours the permit. A listing says the permit is recognised, not that you must carry one, so check the entry rules before you go. For a country where the type matters, the Japan case shows what happens when only the 1949 version is valid.
Visitors to the US
AAA's FAQ answers the visitor's question plainly: a person who visits the US and finds they need an IDP cannot buy one from AAA, which issues only to holders of a valid US licence. Its example is a licence issued in the United Kingdom. Other countries run their own schemes; for Australia, see the Australian permit guide.
For a UK driver, GOV.UK's advice says you can use a UK photocard licence to drive in the US and may need to get the 1949 version of the IDP as well. It says requirements vary in each state, and points you to the state's Department of Motor Vehicles and AAA. It adds that you cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel, and that hire companies often ask for more, including an IDP. The UK steps and cost are in how to get an international driving permit in the UK, and the types in the international driving permit guide.
New York is one state whose DMV page speaks plainly: you can drive there on a valid driver licence from another country and need not apply for a New York licence unless you become a resident. It asks for an IDP or a certified translation only at the road test, if your licence is not printed in English. That is one state; read the page of the state you will drive in.
What BlitzBuddy does
BlitzBuddy does not issue or check permits. It is free, with no ads and no subscription, and it is available for iPhone; the Android version is coming soon. If your trip takes you to the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France or Türkiye, the rules on speed camera warning apps in each country are worth reading first. Other permit guides are under driving abroad.
Sources
- International driver's license for U.S. citizens, USAGov
- International Driving Permit, AAA
- IDP Steps, American Automobile Touring Alliance
- Countries that honor International Driving Permits, AAA (pdf, as of August 2026)
- USA travel advice: Safety and security, GOV.UK
- Drivers from Other Countries, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
Sources read on 17 October 2026 and checked again the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues an international driving permit in the USA?
Two organisations: the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). USAGov says the US Department of State has authorised both, and warns that many other websites claiming to issue permits are fraudulent.
How much is an AAA international driving permit?
AAA shows a US$20 permit fee. Applying online adds a US$10 passport photo fee plus shipping, and AAA asks you to allow 5 business days for processing plus return shipping.
How long is a US international driving permit valid?
One year, according to USAGov, and it cannot be renewed. AAA will not issue one more than six months before the date you want it to start.
Can I buy a US international driving permit once I am abroad?
AAA says a permit to go with a US licence can only be issued in the USA, so get it before you fly. If you are already overseas, it offers an online application and a postal route to its Florida office, with 5 to 7 weeks for return mail.
Do I need an international driving permit to drive in the US as a visitor?
It depends on the state. GOV.UK says a UK photocard licence can be used in the US but you may need the 1949 permit too, and that requirements vary by state. AAA cannot issue a permit to someone who holds a foreign licence.
