MileCheckDo you need an International Driving Permit in the US?
There is no single US answer. Check the states you will drive in and your rental company before leaving home. An International Driving Permit does not replace your licence.
Facts checked September 2026. Every number links to its source; prices and rules change, so confirm the day you travel.
What the permit does
An IDP translates your licence. Carry the valid original with it. It does not restore an expired licence or give you permission to drive a different vehicle class.
Arrange it through an authorised issuer for the country that issued your licence. AAA issues permits for holders of US licences, not for visitors using foreign licences.
The rental counter has its own requirements
Enterprise distinguishes between languages and writing systems. For a non-English licence using Latin letters, it recommends an IDP. For a licence using another script, it requires one, with a professional typewritten translation accepted where an IDP cannot be obtained in the home country.
The original licence is still required. Check the pickup location for additional identity documents.
Check the state, not a national checklist
USA.gov directs visitors to each state’s licensing agency. New York permits visitors to drive on a valid foreign licence. Texas applies reciprocity conditions and a visitor time limit.
Do not mistake New York’s translation instructions for taking its road test for a blanket IDP requirement on every visitor.
USA.gov · New York DMV visitor rules · Texas DPS reciprocity rules.
An IDP does not extend a visitor’s driving privilege
Your licence must remain valid, and moving to a state can trigger a local licensing requirement. Texas describes qualifying foreign driving privileges as lasting up to one year or until residency, whichever comes first.
Read the visitor and resident licence guide before treating a long stay as a holiday.
Check the paperwork before you book
Ask the rental branch to confirm that it accepts your licence, language and vehicle class. Keep the answer with your reservation. Carry the original licence and any required translation, plus the identity documents the branch specifies.
If your route includes several states, check each one. A counter accepting your documents does not settle every state’s driving rules.
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Questions, answered
Can you drive with just an IDP?
No. Carry the valid licence it translates.
Does every visitor need one?
No single requirement covers every state and rental company. Check both before travelling.
Does an English licence guarantee that you can rent?
No. The rental company also checks its other driver and document requirements.
Can AAA issue one for your foreign licence?
AAA’s US permit service is for US licence holders. Use the authorised issuer for your licensing country.
Does an IDP extend an expired licence?
No. You still need a valid underlying licence.
Should you bring a licence photo instead?
No. Enterprise requires the original licence, not a photocopy.
California mile markers · California cameras · Florida mile markers · Florida cameras · Texas mile markers · Texas cameras · New York mile markers · New York cameras · Driving into Canada · Driving into the US from Canada · Will my phone work in the US? · Driving on a foreign licence · New York City cameras