An international driving permit (IDP) is a document you may need, on top of your UK driving licence, to drive in some countries. GOV.UK says whether you need one depends on the country you visit and how long you stay, and that you must always carry your driving licence as well as the IDP. With a UK photocard licence you do not need one to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. Where you do, GOV.UK puts the price at £5.50. Below: the three types, GOV.UK's country table and the limits in Europe and beyond, summarised from GOV.UK as read on 11 October 2026. It is not legal advice.
Permit, licence, IDP: what the names mean
International driving licence, international driving license and international driving permit licence all mean the same document; GOV.UK uses one term, international driving permit, or IDP. It does not replace your licence: GOV.UK says you need a valid Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence to get an IDP, and you carry the two together. If your question is where to apply and what to take, the steps are in how to get an international driving permit.
The three types: 1926, 1949 and 1968
GOV.UK says there are three types of IDP, named by year, and that the one you need depends on the country you visit. By our count of its table on 11 October 2026, it lists 144 countries and territories: 84 take the 1968 type, 58 the 1949 type and two, Mexico and Somalia, the 1926 type. If you travel through more than one country you might need more than one type. For a country that is not in the table, GOV.UK says to check with its embassy.
| Country | Type | What GOV.UK adds |
|---|---|---|
| France | 1968 | You do not need an IDP. |
| Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Isles) | 1949 | You do not need an IDP. |
| Germany | 1968 | A UK photocard licence is fine for up to 6 months without an IDP; an Isle of Man licence needs one. |
| Türkiye (listed as Turkey) | 1968 | No extra note. |
| United States | 1949 | Check whether the individual state authority says you need one. You may need licence and IDP to hire a car. |
| Mexico | 1926 | No extra note. |
| Singapore | 1949 | IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 30 days. |
| Georgia | 1968 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
The type only matters where you actually need a permit.
Europe: the photocard licence rule
GOV.UK's IDP page says you do not need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if you have a photocard driving licence issued in the UK. Its EU guidance adds that you will not need one to drive when visiting Ireland with a UK licence. You might need an IDP in some EU countries and Norway if you hold:
- a paper driving licence, which GOV.UK says to update to a photocard licence or back up with an IDP;
- a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, where the table gives country-specific notes.
Some countries set a time limit for photocard holders. The table gives 6 months for Germany and Belgium, 185 days for Portugal, 90 days for Denmark, 90 days in any 180-day period for Estonia and 30 days for Cyprus. GOV.UK's France travel advice, updated on 11 August 2026, repeats the photocard point: you can use a UK photocard licence in France, and a paper licence holder may need to update it or get the correct version of the IDP.
Outside Europe: long stays, car hire and local steps
GOV.UK flags an IDP for stays longer than 30 days in places such as Singapore and Taiwan, and longer than 90 days in places such as the Bahamas, Kenya and Georgia. For Botswana, Namibia and Saudi Arabia it says an IDP is needed for car hire. Bahrain asks for one for car hire and for stays longer than 90 days, and wants it certified by local authorities on arrival. For Sri Lanka, GOV.UK says you need a Sri Lankan recognition permit from the Automobile Association of Ceylon in Colombo as well as the IDP.
Car hire can ask for more than the law
Many country entries end with the same line: if you are hiring a car, check whether the hire company says you need an IDP. GOV.UK's France advice adds that hire companies often have stricter requirements, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and an IDP. A hire company may also ask to see your licence information, which GOV.UK says you can share with a licence check code obtained up to 21 days before your trip. If you got your licence in Northern Ireland, GOV.UK says to show the rental company your paper counterpart instead.
What it costs and how long it lasts
GOV.UK gives the price as £5.50. A 1926 or 1949 permit lasts 12 months. A 1968 permit lasts 3 years or until your UK driving licence expires, whichever comes first. If you already have an IDP, GOV.UK says to make sure it is still valid in the country you are visiting.
Do not apply for an IDP if you are moving abroad. GOV.UK says you will need to exchange your UK licence or apply for a new one in the country you move to.
A permit does not replace local rules
GOV.UK says you must follow overseas driving rules, including local speed limits and drink driving laws, and may be fined if you do not. Depending on the country you may also need extra equipment such as a reflective jacket and a warning triangle, headlight converter stickers, a UK sticker, or an emission sticker for some European cities, which GOV.UK says you may need to buy weeks before you go. The Crit'Air sticker guide covers the French one, and French tolls explained shows how to pay on the motorways there. More guides on permits, tolls and low emission zones are collected under driving abroad.
BlitzBuddy when you cross a border
BlitzBuddy does not check licences or permits. It gives speed camera warnings only in the five countries where it warns: the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Türkiye, and they switch on by themselves when you arrive in one of them. In the UK, Ireland and every other country you get no camera warnings, while your speed, your trips and reports from other drivers still work. In Germany, § 23 (1c) StVO forbids drivers to use a speed camera warner while driving; the warnings can be switched off under Profile, Warnings, and the driver is responsible. In France, article R413-15 of the Code de la route, in paragraph V, has since 5 January 2012 also banned devices that warn of or inform about the location of the equipment used to record traffic offences; using these warnings is the driver's own responsibility. For the other countries, read where speed camera warnings are allowed. BlitzBuddy is free, with no ads and no subscription. It is available for iPhone; the Android version is coming soon.
Sources
- Check if you need an international driving permit (IDP), GOV.UK
- Get an international driving permit (IDP), GOV.UK
- Driving abroad, GOV.UK
- Drive abroad: step by step, GOV.UK
- Driving in the EU, GOV.UK
- France travel advice: safety and security, GOV.UK
- Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung, § 23, Federal Ministry of Justice (in German)
- Code de la route, article R413-15, Légifrance (in French, version in force since 5 January 2012)
Sources read on 11 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an international driving permit to drive in France or Spain?
Not with a UK photocard licence. GOV.UK's country table says you do not need an IDP in France or in Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Isles. With a paper licence, GOV.UK says to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP, and if you hire a car, to check what the hire company asks for.
Is an international driving licence the same as an international driving permit?
Yes, people use both names for the same document, but GOV.UK uses only one: international driving permit (IDP). You get it with a valid Great Britain or Northern Ireland licence, and you must carry the licence as well as the IDP.
How much does an international driving permit cost?
GOV.UK says an IDP costs £5.50, from certain shops that have PayPoint. You must live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, hold a full UK driving licence and be 18 or over.
