International Driving Licence - Do you need one?

How to apply for an International Driving Licence

An International Driving Licence (IDL) is an internationally recognized legal document which normally allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle when accompanied by a valid UK driving licence. In order to drive a car or ride a motorbike outside UK you'll need an International Driving Licence (IDL) for certain countries. If you're driving and/or hiring a car or a motorcycle abroad, you should have your UK driving licence with you in addition to your international driving licence.

To be eligible for an IDL:

You should have a full UK driving licence (not provisional) covering the type of vehicle you're planning to drive abroad

You should be a permanent resident of the UK

You should be 18 or above

You are not eligible to get an International Driving Licence with a foreign driving licence if it is not an EU licence or you are not a resident in Great Britain.

An International Driving Licence (IDL) is valid only for 12 months from the date of issue. IDL applications cannot be made any more than three months in advance of the date of travel. An IDL cannot be backdated under any circumstances.

Prior to the applying for an International Driving Licence in UK you should notice the followings:

An IDL is valid for 1 year.

You can only get an IDL 3 month in advance of needing it.

You can't get an IDL issued retrospectively.

There are 2 types of IDL (1949 and 1926) depending on the country you visit the type will change.

IDLs cannot be issued to a holders of a UK provisional driving licence without the test pass certificate and provisional driving licence.

You are permitted to use IDL in conjunction with your driving licence, but you are not allowed to use IDL instead of your original driving licence.

In some countries, you risk being fined or worse for relying solely on an IDL.

Easiest ways you can apply for an International Driving Licence

Applying for an IDL at a Post Office

You'll need to apply personally, so go to the nearest Post Office branch which issues International Driving Licences.

GOOD TO KNOW: Fill in an application form.
Make sure your dates are right since you can only get an IDL three months in advance.

MUST DO: Make sure that you take your full UK driving licence (or provisional licence and pass certificate), a passport-sized photo signed on the back, the application fee of £5.50, and your proof of identity when you go back in with your completed application.

After you fulfilled all requirements they'll sort everything out and for you and issue you the International Driving Licence.

Applying for an International Driving Licence by post

If it's not convenient for you to get to a post office, you can apply for an IDL by post to your motoring agency and may take at least 10 working days to be processed from the date of receipt. Print off an application form and complete the details. Then send it to motoring agency including your payment and the relevant documents.

How to apply

You must send a full photocopy not the originals of the documents plus your passport photo.

Before you post your application:

Check that you have signed and completed the application form in full, attached the supporting documentation and evidence and enclosed the correct payment.

Incomplete applications will be returned to you

Countries that require an International Driving Licence

Special conditions or requirements apply for those countries in the list below with one or more capital letters alongside. It is important that you refer to the corresponding note(s) at the foot of this page.

International Driving Licence 1949

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Australia

Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia
Botswana
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso

Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Czech Republic

Djibouti
Dominica

Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia

French Guiana

Gabon
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea Bissau
Guinea Republic
Guyana

Haiti
Hong Kong
Hungary

Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Italy

Japan
Jordan

Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea (South)
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan

Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya

Macao
Macedonia
Malaysia
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Montenegro
Mozambique
Myanmar

Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria

Oman

Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Portugal
Puerto Rico

Qatar

Reunion Romania
Russia

Rwanda

San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Surinam
Swaziland
Syria

Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey

Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
USA (Florida)

Vietnam

Yemen

Zambia
Zimbabwe

International Driving Licence 1926

Brazil
Burundi
Iraq
Somalia

Happy & safe riding!