International Driving Permit (IDP) UK Guide 2026

An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates your UK driving licence into a format recognised by foreign authorities. In 2026 the Post Office remains the only official UK issuer, the fee is still £5.50, and the document is available over the counter in around five minutes. This guide explains the three IDP versions, which countries demand each one, how to apply, and the common mistakes that get hire-car drivers turned away at airport counters.

An IDP is a paper booklet issued under three United Nations conventions: 1926 (Brazil, Iraq, Somalia, Mexico), 1949 (USA, Australia, Japan, India, South Africa) and 1968 (most of Europe, UAE, China). It is not a licence in its own right — you must carry it together with your UK photocard licence. The IDP simply translates the categories of vehicle you are entitled to drive into nine languages including Arabic, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. GOV.UK driving abroad maintains the official country list. If you are shipping a personal car alongside your move, see our international car shipping service.

The three versions are not interchangeable. A 1949 IDP will not be accepted in Germany, and a 1968 IDP will not work in the USA. Common 2026 examples: USA, Australia and New Zealand → 1949 IDP. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and most of EU → 1968 IDP. Some countries (Spain, Switzerland) accept either. The Post Office assistant will check the country list and issue the correct version on the spot. If you are travelling on a multi-country trip you can buy more than one IDP and carry both. For destination-specific paperwork, see our country guides.

Walk into any of the 2,500 Post Office branches that issue IDPs. Take your full UK photocard licence (provisional licences are not accepted), one passport-style photo signed on the back, and £5.50 in cash or card. The IDP is issued the same visit and is valid from a start date you nominate (up to three months ahead). The 1949 and 1926 versions are valid 12 months; the 1968 version is valid three years or until your UK licence expires, whichever comes first. You cannot apply by post, online, or through the AA/RAC any longer — those services were withdrawn in 2019.

In the USA, most states will accept a UK licence alone for stays under three months, but rental companies in Florida and California increasingly demand an IDP since 2024. In the UAE and Qatar, driving without the correct 1968 IDP voids your travel insurance and can result in vehicle impoundment. In Japan, police routinely fine tourists £180+ for missing 1949 IDPs. The Foreign Office (FCDO travel advice) lists country-specific enforcement. If you are relocating long-term, you will need to convert to a local licence — see our IDP vs local licence guide.

Three mistakes account for 80% of rejected IDPs at airport hire desks. First, applying for the wrong version — always quote your destination to the Post Office clerk. Second, an unsigned passport photo — the rear must be signed in ink. Third, forgetting your photocard licence — the IDP alone is worthless. Always carry both physically; digital scans on a phone are not accepted. If you are shipping the car you intend to drive, our team can sequence the paperwork — get in touch for a sequenced timeline.

An IDP is the cheapest insurance you will buy before driving abroad. £5.50 at the Post Office, five minutes, and three years' validity on the 1968 version. Confirm the correct convention for every country on your itinerary, sign the photo, and always carry the IDP with your UK photocard licence. With those four habits, you will never be turned away at a hire desk or roadside check.

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