► What is an International Driving Permit?
► Do you need a special licence after Brexit?
► Explained: how to apply for an IDP
Britain has officially left the EU – and disentangling ourselves from four decades of union has had lots of unforeseen side effects. But now the divorce settlement is agreed, it’s clear that British drivers won’t need an International Driving Permit to drive on the Continent after Brexit.
But while the deal with the EU has been struck, motorists will still need a special licence to drive in other countries – including the US and other popular hotspots. We list which licence you need for which country lower down this page.
So what is an International Driving Permit (IDP)? Do you really need one? Which countries require one? And how do you apply for an international driving licence? In this handy explainer we look at all of these topical questions.
Follow our step-by-step guide and find out if you’ll need one and how you can best prepare yourself for any 2021 holidays driving abroad, safe in the knowledge that you can still drive unimpeded across the barriers of bureaucratic red tape.
Further reading around Brexit
Do I need an International Driving Permit after Brexit?
Happily not, if you plan to visit mainland Europe. Your current photocard UK driving licence will be accepted in all EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, but the UK government advises that holders of older paper licences may still need to apply for an IDP.
If you’re driving further afield in countries outside Europe, the rules are unchanged. So if you have a trip to somewhere exotic such as China, South Africa, the US or Japan, chances are you’ll need an IDP already. Read on to find out how you can apply for one.
Remember also that you will now need a Green Card from your insurer to prove you are covered – and a GB sticker on the back of your car.
Will Brexit make my next car more expensive?
International Driving Permit: get one at your local Post Office
The good news is, it’s really quite straightforward to apply for an international licence. You certainly don’t need to take another test or wait weeks for one to be sent through to you. Most major Post Offices can do the paperwork for you while you wait – it should take no more than about quarter of an hour. Simply take with you:
- Your current UK driving licence
- A passport photo for each licence you require
- Means of paying for each licence (prices below)
- Official ID (such as your passport)
It’s worth ringing ahead to check if your local Post Office can do the necessary paperwork. Many even quite large Post Offices aren’t approved – so you’ll have to do some research first. The Royal Mail says that 2500 of its outlets can do the forms, but you can’t process the application online. It must be done in person over the counter.
You can only apply for an International Driving Permit UK if you are aged 18 or over, are a resident of the UK or Northern Ireland and hold a full UK driving licence.
Types of international driving licence for driving abroad
Ok, things get a bit complicated here. There are three different types of International Driving Permit currently offered in the UK, each named after the historic treaty when deals were done by past governments to enable motorists from each country to drive in foreign states.
According to the latest government details, the following documents are required in the respective countries:
- 1968 International Driving Permit Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, French Polynesia, Guyana, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
- 1949 International Driving Permit Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, St Vincent, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United States, Vatican City, Venezuela
- 1926 International Driving Permit Mexico, Somalia
The 1949 permit lasts for 12 months; the 1968 licence lasts for three years or until your regular UK driving licence expires, whichever comes first. There is little difference between the small, handkerchief-sized cardboard licences – other than the date on the front page.
How much does each worldwide driving licence cost?
Thankfully, the IDP documents are quite cheap to apply for. Each permit costs £5.50 – so even if you apply for belt-and-braces all three licences, it’ll only cost you £16.50.
You’ll see why when you get one; they are disappointingly low-tech – simple, low-tech card documents that feel as if they hark back to the 1968 date on the cover…
Will I need an international driving permit in the US and elsewhere in the world?
Driving in America requires a 1949 International Driving Permit, according to the authorities. For a full list of which countries require which driving licences, check out the official government website here.
Many of the CAR magazine team have already applied for their international permits, as we regularly drive abroad on new car launches. Be sure to sound off in the comments below to share any experiences of you have of overseas driving with an IDP.