IDP requirements by country
Below is a list of countries for which a permit is required or recommended together with information about the type of IDP required.
This information refers to UK driving licence holders only. We are unable to advise holders of overseas licences for travel outside the UK.
If the country you are visiting is not shown, please check the requirements through the appropriate tourist offices or embassies, and any relevant car hire company.
Generally, UK licences are accepted in other EU countries unless otherwise specified below. If you intend to hire a car overseas, see Important Notes (no. 4).
An IDP is required for the following countries.
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.
Bahamas (I)
Bahrain (A, M)
Bangladesh
Belarus
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia (L)
Botswana (A, E)
Brunei (A, E)
Bulgaria (D)
Burkina Faso (E)
Back to the top of the page
Cambodia (Kampuchea) (K)
Cameroon (E)
Canada (E)
Cape Verde (E)
Cayman Islands (C)
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile (L)
Colombia
Comoros
Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Congo (Republic of)
Cook Islands (G)
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Croatia (A)
Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles)
Czech Republic (D)
Back to the top of the page
Ecuador (E)
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea (E)
Ethiopia (C)
French Guiana (E)
Gabon (E)
Georgia (A,E)
Ghana (E)
Grenada (C)
Guadeloupe (E)
Guatemala (E)
Guam
Guinea Bissau (C)
Guinea Republic (E) Guyana (E)
Japan
Jordan
Back to the top of the page
Macao (Macau)
Macedonia (E)
Madagascar (E)
Malaysia (E)
Mali (E)
Mauritania (E)
Mauritius (C)
Mexico (E)
Montenegro (E)
Morocco (E)
Mozambique (E)
Myanmar (Burma) (K)
Sabah (Malaysia)
San Marino (F)
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia (A, B, E)
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles (E)
Sierra Leone
Singapore (A,E)
Slovenia (D)
South Africa (D, J)
Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) (F)
Sri Lanka (N)
St. Kitts & Nevis (G)
St. Lucia (G)
St. Vincent (G)
Sudan (C)
Surinam
Swaziland (L)
Syria
Back to the top of the page
Uganda (I)
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
USA (J, R)
Vietnam (G)
Yemen (C)
Zambia (E)
Zimbabwe (L)
Back to the top of the page
A – Required for car hire.
B – Women not permitted to drive.
C – IDP recommended. Temporary local licence may be obtained on production of UK licence, but this may be time consuming and more expensive.
D – UK driving licences that do not incorporate a photograph must be accompanied by an IDP.
E – IDP recommended.
F – All valid UK driving licences should be accepted. Acceptance of driving licences that are not of the European Communities model cannot be guaranteed therefore drivers may wish to voluntarily update them before travelling abroad, if time permits. Application for D1 (in Northern Ireland DL1) is available from most Post Offices. Alternatively, older licences may be accompanied by an IDP.
G – National licence or IDP should be presented to the police who will issue a visitors licence.
H – IDP valid for 15 days – local licence must then be obtained.
I – UK driving licences valid for 90 days.
J – IDP recommended as, in the event of an accident, some insurance companies will insist on seeing one. Additionally those licences which do not incorporate a photograph need to be accompanied by photographic proof of identity.
K – IDP must be exchanged for a local driving licence. A small charge will be made.
L – An IDP is compulsory for holders of driving licenses not incorporating a photograph and also recommended for photocard licence holders.
M – IDP compulsory and must be certified by the local authorities on arrival.
N – IDP must be accompanied by a recognition permit available for a small fee from the AA of Ceylon in Colombo.
P – Officially a certified translation is required from the Consulate.
Q – For stays longer than 30 days.
R – USA (Florida) compulsory IDP – 1 January 2013
A law was introduced in Florida, USA, on 1 January 2013 requiring all persons who hold a licence issued outside of the US to carry an International Driving Permit along with their national driving licence.
The Governor of Florida repealed this law on 2 April 2013, however, car hire companies and insurance companies can impose their own terms and conditions so you should check with your intended hire/insurance company prior to travel or obtain an IDP as a precautionary measure.
(Last updated 3 April 2013)
