Driving abroad
Check if you need an international driving permit (IDP)
You may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some countries. The permit you may need depends on:
- which country you’re visiting
- how long you’re staying
You need to have a valid Great Britain (GB) or Northern Ireland driving licence to get an IDP.
Driving in Europe
You do not need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if you have a photocard driving licence issued in the UK.
You might need an IDP to drive in some EU countries and Norway if you have either:
- a paper driving licence
- a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
Check with the embassy of the country you will be driving in.
Check which IDP you need
Check the table to find out if you need an IDP. There are 3 types of IDP:
- 1926
- 1949
- 1968
The IDP you need depends on what country you’re visiting.
If you’re travelling through more than one country, you might need more than one type of IDP.
If the country you’re visiting is not included in the table, check with the embassy of the country you’re travelling to.
If you’re hiring a car, check with your car hire company.
If you already have an IDP, make sure it’s still valid in the country you’re visiting.
| Country or territory | Type of IDP | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | 1968 | |
| Algeria | 1949 | |
| Andorra | 1949 | |
| Argentina | 1949 | |
| Armenia | 1968 | |
| Australia | 1949 | |
| Austria | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. |
| Azerbaijan | 1968 | |
| Bahamas | 1968 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Bahrain | 1968 | IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days. You must get your permit certified by local authorities when you arrive. |
| Bangladesh | 1949 | |
| Barbados | 1949 | |
| Belarus | 1968 | |
| Belgium | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Belgian Embassy. |
| Benin | 1949 | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1968 | |
| Botswana | 1949 | IDP needed for car hire. |
| Brazil | 1968 | You need to get a certified translation of your IDP from the British consulate. |
| Bulgaria | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. |
| Burkina Faso | 1949 | |
| Cambodia | 1949 | |
| Canada | 1949 | |
| Cape Verde | 1968 | |
| Central African Republic | 1968 | |
| Chile | 1949 | |
| Congo | 1949 | |
| Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | 1968 | |
| Croatia | None | If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Croatian Embassy. |
| Cuba | 1968 | |
| Cyprus | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for visits up to 30 days. For visits longer than 30 days you will need a 1949 IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1949 IDP for any length of visit. Check with the High Commission of Cyprus. |
| Czech Republic | None | If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Czech Republic Embassy. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 1968 | |
| Denmark | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days. |
| Dominican Republic | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Ecuador | 1949 | |
| Egypt | 1949 | |
| Estonia | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Estonian Embassy. |
| Eswatini (previously Swaziland) | 1949 | If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident. |
| Fiji | 1949 | |
| Finland | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. |
| France | None | If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the French Embassy. |
| French Polynesia | 1968 | |
| Georgia | 1968 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Germany | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the German Embassy. |
| Ghana | 1949 | |
| Greece | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. |
| Guam | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days. If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident. |
| Guatemala | 1949 | |
| Guyana | 1968 | |
| Haiti | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Hungary | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Hungarian Embassy. |
| Iceland | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 30 days. |
| India | 1949 | |
| Iran | 1968 | |
| Iraq | 1968 | |
| Ireland | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. |
| Israel | 1968 | |
| Italy | None | If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Italian Embassy. |
| Jamaica | 1949 | |
| Japan | 1949 | |
| Jordan | 1949 | |
| Kazakhstan | 1968 | |
| Kenya | 1968 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Kuwait | 1968 | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 1968 | |
| Laos | 1949 | |
| Latvia | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. |
| Lebanon | 1949 | |
| Lesotho | 1949 | |
| Liberia | 1968 | |
| Libya | 1949 | |
| Liechtenstein | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. |
| Lithuania | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. |
| Luxembourg | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. |
| Macao (Macau) | 1949 | |
| Madagascar | 1949 | |
| Malawi | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Malaysia (Sabah) | 1949 | |
| Mali | 1949 | |
| Malta | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1949 IDP. Check with the Malta High Commission. |
| Mexico | 1926 | |
| Moldova | 1968 | |
| Monaco | 1968 | |
| Mongolia | 1968 | |
| Montenegro | 1968 | |
| Morocco | 1968 | |
| Myanmar (previously Burma) | 1968 | |
| Namibia | 1949 | IDP needed for car hire. If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident. |
| Netherlands | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. |
| New Zealand | 1949 | |
| Niger | 1968 | |
| Nigeria | 1968 | |
| North Macedonia | 1968 | |
| Norway | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Norwegian Embassy. |
| Pakistan | 1968 | |
| Papua New Guinea | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days. |
| Paraguay | 1949 | |
| Peru | 1968 | |
| Philippines | 1968 | IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Poland | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. |
| Portugal | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. |
| Qatar | 1968 | |
| Romania | None | If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Romanian Embassy. |
| Russian Federation | 1968 | |
| Rwanda | 1949 | |
| San Marino | 1968 | |
| Saudi Arabia | 1968 | IDP needed for car hire. |
| Senegal | 1968 | |
| Serbia | 1968 | |
| Seychelles | 1968 | |
| Sierra Leone | 1949 | |
| Singapore | 1949 | IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 30 days. |
| Slovakia | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. For visits longer than 6 months you’ll need a 1968 IDP. |
| Slovenia | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days. |
| Somalia | 1926 | |
| South Africa | 1968 | If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident. |
| South Korea | 1949 | |
| Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. |
| Sri Lanka | 1949 | As well as the IDP, you must get a Sri Lankan recognition permit from the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) in Colombo. |
| St. Lucia | 1949 | Show your UK driving licence or IDP to the police to get a visitor’s licence. |
| St. Vincent | 1949 | Show your UK driving licence or IDP to the police to get a visitor’s licence. |
| Sweden | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. |
| Switzerland | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. |
| Syria | 1949 | |
| Tajikistan | 1968 | |
| Taiwan | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days. |
| Thailand | 1949 | |
| Togo | 1949 | |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Tunisia | 1968 | |
| Turkey | 1968 | |
| Turkmenistan | 1968 | |
| Uganda | 1949 | IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Ukraine | 1968 | |
| United Arab Emirates | 1968 | |
| United States | 1949 | If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident. |
| Uruguay | 1968 | |
| Uzbekistan | 1968 | |
| Vatican City | 1949 | |
| Venezuela | 1949 | |
| Vietnam | 1968 | |
| Zimbabwe | 1968 |