International Driving Permit UK: Cost, Types & How to Get One (2026)
Quick answer: An international driving permit (IDP) is a paper document that translates your UK driving licence for use abroad. It costs £5.50, you get it in person at a participating PayPoint store, and you must carry it with your UK licence. You do not need one for the EU with a UK photocard licence.
Driving abroad this year? Whether it is a road trip through France or hiring a car in the USA, you need to know if your UK licence is enough on its own. This guide to the international driving permit UK travellers ask about covers everything: the three permit types, which countries need one, the £5.50 fee, and exactly how to get yours before you fly.
International Driving Permit UK: Do You Need One?
An international driving permit is not a licence. It is a multi-language translation of your existing UK driving licence, and it is only valid when shown together with your licence. Police and car hire companies abroad use it to read your details when they cannot read English.
Whether you need one depends entirely on where you are going:
- EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein: you do not need an IDP if you hold a UK photocard driving licence. Your licence alone is enough.
- Paper licence holders: if you still have the old-style paper licence, you do need an IDP for most countries — or update to a photocard first.
- Outside Europe: many countries require or strongly recommend one, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Turkey and the UAE. Always check the GOV.UK country table before you travel.
- Car hire: even where the law does not require an IDP, some hire companies ask for one. Check their terms before you book.
Visiting the UK from abroad and wondering about the reverse? See our guide to exchanging a foreign driving licence for a UK one.
The 3 Types of International Driving Permit Explained
The UK issues three different IDPs, named after the international road-traffic conventions they come from. The type you need depends on your destination — and if you are visiting several countries, you may need more than one.
| Permit | Based on | Valid for | Cost | Example countries (GOV.UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Paris Convention | 1 year | £5.50 | Mexico, Somalia |
| 1949 | Geneva Convention | 1 year | £5.50 | USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, New Zealand |
| 1968 | Vienna Convention | 3 years* | £5.50 | Turkey, UAE, Thailand, South Africa, Morocco, Brazil |
*The 1968 permit lasts three years, or until your UK driving licence expires — whichever comes first.
1926 permit
The rarest one. You only need it for Mexico and Somalia. Valid for one year.
1949 permit
The most commonly needed by UK holidaymakers. It covers the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore and many more. Valid for one year.
1968 permit
The most widely recognised version. It covers Turkey, the UAE, Thailand, South Africa, Morocco, Brazil, Russia and most countries that require an IDP at all. Valid for three years.
Which Permit for Popular Destinations?
- USA: 1949 permit. Some states and car hire firms ask for it; check before you go.
- Spain and France: no IDP needed with a UK photocard licence. (GOV.UK lists 1949 for Spain and 1968 for France for paper-licence holders.)
- Australia and New Zealand: 1949 permit.
- Japan: 1949 permit.
- Turkey, UAE, Thailand: 1968 permit.
- Mexico: 1926 permit — the only common holiday destination that needs this type.
If your trip crosses borders, check every country on your route. Driving through Mexico and the USA, for example, means you need both the 1926 and the 1949 permits (£11 in total).
How to Get Your International Driving Permit UK: Step by Step
Since 1 April 2024, IDPs are issued at participating PayPoint stores across the UK — not at Post Office counters (unless that Post Office has PayPoint). You cannot apply online or by post, and you cannot get one once you are already abroad.
Who can apply: you must be 18 or over, a UK resident, and hold a full UK driving licence. Provisional licences are not accepted. Your licence must be valid — it is issued and managed by the DVLA, so check it has not expired before you apply. Just passed your test? Read how long it takes to get your full licence after passing first.
What to take with you:
- Your full UK photocard driving licence
- A passport-style photo, with your signature on the back
- Proof of identity, such as your passport (needed if you have a paper licence)
- £5.50 fee — payable by cash or card
How it works:
- Find a participating PayPoint store using the PayPoint store locator.
- Go in person with your documents — the international driving permit UK fee is £5.50 per permit, whichever type you need.
- Staff complete the permit on the spot. You walk out with it the same day.
You can apply up to three months before you travel, so there is no need to leave it to the last minute — but do not apply too early on a one-year permit, or it could expire mid-trip.
Important Rules and Mistakes to Avoid
- An IDP never replaces your licence. You must carry both at all times abroad. Driving with only the permit can get you fined.
- Wrong permit, no cover. Using the wrong convention type for your destination can mean fines — and could affect your car insurance if something goes wrong.
- Beware scam websites. Sites selling an “international driving licence” online are not selling a legally recognised document. There is no such thing as an international driving licence — only permits issued in person by authorised outlets.
- It translates your details. The permit restates the information on your photocard — including your driving licence number — in several languages, which is why officials abroad accept it.
- Check hire company rules. Even in countries where the law does not require an IDP, the rental desk might. A £5.50 permit is cheap insurance against a ruined pickup.
Conclusion
- An international driving permit UK drivers buy is a translation of your licence, not a licence itself — always carry both.
- Cost: £5.50 per permit, from participating PayPoint stores, in person only. No online or postal applications.
- Three types: 1926 (Mexico, Somalia — 1 year), 1949 (USA, Japan, Australia — 1 year), 1968 (Turkey, UAE, Thailand — 3 years).
- No IDP needed for the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with a UK photocard licence.
- You must be 18+, a UK resident, with a full licence. Apply before you leave the UK, up to 3 months early.
- Never buy an “international driving licence” from a website — it is not a legal document.
FAQs: International Driving Permit
All rules, fees, permit types and country requirements in this article were verified against GOV.UK in October 2026. Country rules can change — always double-check the GOV.UK country table before you travel.
