Travel & Abroad

Beginner

8 min read 6 stepsMay 8, 2026Verified May 2026

How to Get an International Driver's Permit at AAA

Plain-English walkthrough for seniors on getting an International Driving Permit through AAA in person or by mail, with photos, fees.

At a Glance

Confirm You Actually Need an IDP

~55s

Not every country requires an International Driving Permit. Start by looking up your destination on the State Department website at travel.state.gov. Search for the country name and check the Local Laws and Special Circumstances section. The site lists driving rules for each country, including whether an IDP is required, recommended, or unnecessary. The countries that strictly enforce IDP rules include Italy, Greece, Spain, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Japan, South Korea, China, and Brazil. Countries where you can usually drive on a United States license alone include Canada, Mexico for short trips, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Rental car companies sometimes have their own rules that go beyond the law, so check with the rental company too. When in doubt, get the IDP. The $25 cost is small compared to the trouble of explaining a missing document to a police officer or a rental clerk who does not speak English.

Quick Tip

AAA has a country list at aaa.com under the International Driving Permit section. It is updated each year and is one of the most reliable plain-English summaries.

Gather Your Documents and Photos

~53s

Before your trip to AAA, gather four things. First, your valid United States driver's license. It must be a regular license, not a permit or a provisional license. And it must have at least six months of validity left from the date you apply. Second, the AAA International Driving Permit application form. You can download it from aaa.com and fill it out at home, or pick one up at the branch. Third, two passport-style photographs, two inches by two inches, in color, with a white background. AAA branches can take these for an extra fee, usually around $15 to $20, but many drugstores like CVS or Walgreens take passport photos for less. Fourth, a payment method: cash, check, or credit card. The fee is $25 in 2026. If you are applying by mail, you also need a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Warning

The two photos must be identical. Some photo booths give you a strip of four. You only need two, and they must match each other exactly. Cut them carefully to size.

Apply In Person at a AAA Branch

~1 min

The fastest way to get an IDP is to walk into a AAA branch with your documents. Call your local branch first at the number listed on aaa.com to confirm they issue IDPs and to check their hours. Not every branch handles them. When you arrive, hand the application form, your license, your two photos, and your payment to the staff member at the counter. They will review everything, type your information into the printed booklet, attach a photo to one inside page, and stamp the document. You sign the inside cover, and the booklet is yours. The entire process usually takes fifteen to thirty minutes if there is no line. AAA membership is not required to get an IDP, although members sometimes receive small discounts on other services during the visit. Keep the booklet in a safe place, separate from your United States license while traveling, so a lost wallet does not take both documents at once.

Quick Tip

Go to AAA on a weekday morning. Saturday afternoons are the busiest. Always bring your passport too, even though it is not required for the IDP itself, because it is often useful for identification.

Apply by Mail if You Cannot Visit a Branch

~57s

If the nearest AAA office is more than an hour away, or if you have trouble traveling, you can apply by mail. Download the application from aaa.com and fill it out by hand. Mail the completed form, a clear photocopy of the front and back of your United States driver's license, two passport-style photos, a check or money order for $25, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the AAA address on the form. The processing center in Florida usually completes the request within ten to fifteen business days, plus mailing time. If you are in a hurry, you can pay extra for expedited mail service. Mail applications cannot be tracked by phone in the same way an in-person visit can, so plan ahead and apply at least six weeks before your trip if you choose the mail route. Keep a copy of every document you mail in case the envelope is lost in transit.

Warning

Never mail your original driver's license. AAA only needs a photocopy of the front and back. Sending the original could leave you unable to drive at home.

Carry the IDP With Your United States License

~52s

The IDP is only valid when carried together with your United States driver's license. Without the United States license, the IDP is worthless. Always have both documents on you when you drive in a foreign country. Many travelers keep the IDP in a slim folder along with their passport copy, insurance card, and emergency contact information. The IDP is not a passport substitute and is not accepted as proof of citizenship, so do not confuse the two. If you are stopped by police abroad, hand over the IDP first because the translated pages help the officer read your information quickly. Most rental car companies in Italy, Greece, and Spain will refuse to release the car without a valid IDP, so present it at the counter even if no one asks.

Quick Tip

Take a clear photo of the inside of your IDP with your smartphone, in case the physical booklet is lost. Email the photo to yourself so you can show it from any device.

Replace a Lost or Stolen IDP

~58s

If you lose your IDP while abroad, you cannot get a replacement from a foreign location. AAA can only issue IDPs to people physically in the United States. While you are still overseas, the closest thing to a replacement is a letter from the nearest United States embassy or consulate confirming your identity and your driving privileges, which some authorities will accept temporarily. When you return to the United States, apply for a new IDP through AAA the same way you did the first time. If your United States driver's license is also lost or stolen, contact your state Department of Motor Vehicles right away and consider whether to cut your trip short, because the police in many countries can fine drivers who cannot produce a valid license. Report the loss to local police and keep a copy of the police report, both for insurance purposes and for AAA when you replace the permit.

Warning

Never pay a stranger or an unofficial agency for a so-called replacement IDP overseas. Counterfeit IDPs are common and can result in fines or jail time in countries that take road safety strictly.

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An International Driving Permit, often shortened to IDP, is a small booklet that translates your United States driver's license into ten languages and certifies that you are legally allowed to drive. It is not a separate license. It is a companion document that you carry alongside your regular license whenever you drive in a foreign country that requires it. Many countries, including Italy, Greece, Spain, Austria, Hungary, and Japan, legally require an IDP for visiting drivers. Other countries, like Mexico and most of Canada, do not require an IDP but accept it as identification. Even in places that do not require one, an IDP can prevent confusion at a rental counter, a traffic stop, or after a minor accident.

In the United States, the IDP is issued by only two organizations authorized by the Department of State: the American Automobile Association, known as AAA, and the American Automobile Touring Alliance, known as AATA. AAA is the most common choice for most travelers because it has more than 800 branch offices across the country, and the permit can also be got by mail. The cost is $25 in 2026, plus the cost of two passport-style photos if you do not bring your own. The permit is valid for one year from the date of issue. You cannot renew it. When it expires, you fill out a new application.

The biggest mistake snowbirds and retirees make is waiting until the day before a trip to get an IDP. AAA cannot issue an IDP for someone who is already outside the United States. You must apply while you are still on American soil, with your valid United States driver's license in hand. If you are flying to Italy on Friday and remember on Thursday that you need an IDP, you can usually walk into a local AAA office and walk out with a permit in about thirty minutes, but only if your branch handles them and is open. Many smaller branches do not process IDPs, so always call ahead.

This guide covers the in-person process, the by-mail process for retirees who live far from a branch, the documents and photos you need, the countries that require an IDP versus those that do not, and what to do if your IDP is lost or stolen while abroad. The whole process is straightforward once you know what to bring, and the $25 fee is one of the best travel insurance investments most retirees will ever make.

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