How to get an International Driving Permit (IDP)
Find out whether you need an International Driving Permit for your trip and get one for £5.50 at a PayPoint shop.
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 5
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Your full UK photocard driving licence
- If you have an old paper licence: your passport and a passport photo
- £5.50
Safety first
- Beware of websites selling 'international driving licences' – these aren't official IDPs.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Check whether you need one
You don't need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with a UK photocard licence. Some other countries do require one. Check the table on GOV.UK's 'Driving abroad' page for your destination, and ask your car hire company.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Check which type you need
There are three types – 1926, 1949 and 1968 – and the country decides which. If you're driving through several countries, you may need more than one.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Check you're eligible
You must live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, have a full UK driving licence, and be 18 or over.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Go to a PayPoint shop
IDPs are no longer sold at Post Offices. Find a participating shop at paypoint.com/dvla. Take your photocard licence (or, with a paper licence, your passport and a passport photo) and pay £5.50.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Carry it with your licence
Always carry both your UK licence and your IDP when you drive abroad. A 1926 or 1949 IDP lasts 12 months; a 1968 one lasts 3 years or until your licence expires, whichever is sooner.
Tips
- Paper licence holders may find it easier to swap to a photocard licence before travelling.
- Check other rules for your destination too, such as headlamp beam adjusters, the UK sticker and required kit – see GOV.UK's driving abroad guides.
Questions people ask
Do I need an IDP for Spain or France?
Not if you have a UK photocard licence.
Can I get an IDP online?
GOV.UK only lists getting one in person at participating PayPoint shops.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
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Printed from howtoguides.uk/guides/how-to-get-an-international-driving-permit/ · Checked 9 October 2026 · General information only. For gas, electrics, structural work, medical, legal or money decisions, use a qualified professional.