What an International Driving Permit Form Actually Asks For

An International Driving Permit (IDP) form is a standardized document that translates your home country's driver's license into a format recognized in other countries. The form itself is short — usually one or two pages — and asks for the same basic information that appears on your license: your name, date of birth, license number, and the date your license expires.

The form also asks where you plan to travel, though this is typically just a checkbox or short list rather than a detailed itinerary. Most forms include a section for your signature and a space for an official stamp or seal from the issuing authority. The exact layout varies slightly depending on which country issues your IDP, but the content is nearly identical across all versions because the form follows an international standard set by the United Nations.

You do not fill out the IDP form yourself and submit it to a government office. Instead, you bring a completed form (or a blank one) to an authorized issuing office — usually your local motor vehicle department, automobile club, or travel agency — and they complete it, verify your information against your actual license, and issue the permit on the spot or within a few days.

Key Takeaways

  • The IDP form requests your name, date of birth, license number, expiration date, and destination countries, all of which must match your valid driver's license exactly.
  • You bring the form to an authorized issuing office (typically your motor vehicle department or an automobile club), not to a government mailing address.
  • The issuing office completes the form, verifies your information, and stamps or seals it — you do not submit it yourself.
  • You need a valid passport-style photo and your current driver's license when you visit the issuing office, even though the form itself does not ask for these items.
  • The entire process usually takes less than an hour if you visit in person, though some offices accept mail-in requests that take one to two weeks.

Information You Need Before You Start

Gather your current driver's license and have it in front of you before you approach the form. You will need to copy your license number, the exact spelling of your name as it appears on the license, your date of birth, and the expiration date of your license. If any of these details are wrong on the IDP form, the permit will not be valid.

You will also need a valid passport or national ID card. Some issuing offices require a passport-style photo (usually 2x2 inches), though not all do — call ahead to confirm what your specific office needs. Have a list of the countries you plan to visit, though this is often optional and used mainly for record-keeping rather than to restrict where you can drive.

Check whether your driver's license is currently valid and will remain valid for the duration of your trip. An IDP cannot extend beyond the expiration date of your underlying license, so if your license expires in three months, your IDP will too.

Where to Get the Actual Form

You do not need to find and print the form in advance. Most issuing offices have blank forms on hand and will give you one when you arrive, or they may have you fill it out on a computer terminal in their office. If you prefer to bring a completed form with you, you can read it from your motor vehicle department's website or from the American Automobile Association (AAA) website if you are in the United States.

The form is the same regardless of where you read it, since it follows the international standard. If you read it ahead of time, print it on regular paper — do not use cardstock or any special material, as the issuing office will need to stamp or seal it, and some materials do not accept stamps cleanly.

If you are outside the United States, contact your country's equivalent of the motor vehicle department or your national automobile club to find out where forms are available and whether you can read one online.

Step-by-Step: What to Write on the Form

Section 1: Personal Information. Write your full name exactly as it appears on your driver's license, including middle names or initials. Write your date of birth in the format the form specifies (often MM/DD/YYYY in the United States, but check the form itself). Write your current address.

Section 2: License Details. Copy your driver's license number from the front of your license. Write the date your license was issued and the date it expires. Write the state or country that issued your license. Do not guess at these dates — they must match your actual license exactly, or the IDP will be rejected by border officials.

Section 3: Destination Countries. List the countries where you plan to drive. This section is often optional, but filling it in helps the issuing office understand the scope of your travel. If you are unsure of all your destinations, you can list the main ones or leave this section blank — it does not restrict where you can use the permit.

Section 4: Signature. Sign the form in the space provided. Your signature must match the signature on your driver's license reasonably closely, though it does not need to be identical. If you cannot sign (due to disability or injury), ask the issuing office staff how they handle this — most have a procedure for a witness or official to sign on your behalf.

What Happens at the Issuing Office

When you arrive at the issuing office with your completed form (or a blank one), the staff will verify that the information on the form matches your driver's license and passport. They will check that your license is currently valid and that you have not been disqualified from driving in your home country. This verification usually takes five to ten minutes.

The office will then stamp or seal the form, add an official number, and may laminate it or bind it into a small booklet depending on your country's format. Some offices do this while you wait; others mail it to you within one to two weeks. Ask before you leave whether you need to return to pick it up or whether they will mail it.

You will receive the completed IDP, which is now your official translation document. Keep it with your driver's license whenever you drive internationally — the IDP is not valid on its own and must be presented alongside your actual license.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

The most common error is copying your license number or expiration date incorrectly. Double-check these details against your physical license before you hand the form to the issuing office. If the office catches the error, they will ask you to correct it; if they do not catch it, your IDP will be invalid when you try to use it abroad.

Do not write in cursive if the form has printed boxes for individual letters — print clearly in capital letters instead. Do not leave required fields blank; if a field does not explore to you, write "N/A" rather than leaving it empty, so the office knows you did not accidentally skip it.

Do not assume the form is the same as the one you used five years ago. International standards are updated periodically, and your country may have changed the format. Always use the current version available from your issuing office or your country's official motor vehicle website.

Mail-In and Online Options

Some motor vehicle departments and automobile clubs accept mail-in requests for an IDP. If you choose this route, you will typically mail in your completed form, a photocopy of your driver's license, a photocopy of your passport, and a passport-style photo. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail the completed IDP back to you.

Mail-in processing usually takes one to three weeks, depending on the office's workload. The downside is that if there is an error on your form or if your documents do not match, you will not find out until the office contacts you, which delays the process further. In-person visits are faster and allow you to correct errors when ready.

Very few offices offer fully online processing, since the form must be officially stamped or sealed by an authorized representative. Some offices let you fill out the form online and then print it to bring in person, which saves time but still requires a visit to the office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to fill out the form before I go to the issuing office?

No. Most offices have blank forms available and staff who can help you fill it out on site. Filling it out at home saves a few minutes, but it is not required. If you do fill it out ahead of time, the office will review it and may ask you to make corrections before they stamp it.

What if my name on my driver's license is different from my passport?

The IDP form must match your driver's license, not your passport. If your name differs between the two documents, bring both to the issuing office and explain the discrepancy. The office will note this on your IDP so that border officials understand why the names do not match.

Can I get an IDP if my driver's license is expired?

No. Your driver's license must be valid at the time you request the IDP. If your license has expired, you must renew it first through your motor vehicle department, then request the IDP. An IDP cannot extend the validity of an expired license.

How long is an International Driving Permit valid?

An IDP is valid for one year from the date it is issued, or until your driver's license expires, whichever comes first. If you are planning a long trip, request your IDP close to your departure date so it does not expire while you are abroad.

Do I need an IDP if I am only renting a car for a day or two?

Requirements vary by country and rental company. Some countries legally require an IDP; others do not. Most rental companies accept an IDP but do not require it if you have a valid driver's license from an English-speaking country. Check with your rental company and the country's embassy or tourism board before you travel.