How to Use a U.S. Driver's License in a Foreign Country

The United Nations Road Traffic Convention of 1949 allows you to use a valid U.S. driver's license in conjunction with an International Driving Permit (IDP) in foreign countries that signed the treaty with the United States. An IDP is an official document that translates a valid U.S. driver's license into different languages and may serve as an additional source of identification if you plan to travel to a foreign country.

Instructions

1. Understand that over 150 countries currently recognize an IDP. The document covers Portuguese, French, Russian, Swedish, German, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Spanish, Italian and English.

2. Find out if the country you plan to visit ratified the treaty. While the IDP includes a Chinese translation, China refused to ratify the treaty upon its inception. If you plan to travel to Brazil or Uruguay, you must acquire an Inter-American Driving Permit (IADP) as an IDP is invalid in these two countries.

3. Possess a valid U.S. driver's license for a minimum of six months before you apply for an IDP. An IDP is a supplement to a government-issued driver's license and is only valid for one year from the date of issuance. You must be 18 years of age or older to acquire an IDP.

4. Protect yourself from IDP scams. Understand that you must use an IDP in conjunction with a valid U.S. driver's license; otherwise, it's invalid as a stand-alone document.

5. Apply for an IDP through the American Automobile Association or the American Automobile Touring Alliance. These are the only two agencies with the authority to issue an IDP; suspect any other source that sales the permit.

Resources

• American Automobile Association