International Driving Permit: a guide for driving abroad

Finding out that you need an International Driving Permit at the hire desk is the kind of problem that can stop a trip before it starts. The car may be booked, the route may be planned and the hotel may be paid for, but the supplier can still refuse the vehicle if the driving documents are not accepted.

The confusing part is that IDP rules are not the same everywhere. A UK photocard driving licence is enough for many European trips, but other destinations, licence formats, rental desks or longer stays can create extra requirements. The car hire company may also apply its own document checks even when the general country rule looks simple.

The key point is simple: an International Driving Permit supports your UK driving licence abroad, but it does not replace it. It is a translation-style document linked to your original licence, and it does not change your driving categories, remove supplier conditions or authorise routes that the hire company has not approved.

On gocarhire.co.uk, this guide explains when UK drivers should check for an IDP, which permit type may be relevant, how to get one before travelling and what to show at the hire desk so a document issue does not ruin collection day.

At a glance: International Driving Permit for car hire

• An IDP is not a replacement licence: you must carry your original driving licence as well.
• UK photocard licences are widely accepted in Europe: GOV.UK says you do not need an IDP for the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if you have a UK photocard licence.
• There are 3 IDP types: 1926, 1949 and 1968, and the right one depends on the country you will drive in.
• Supplier conditions still matter: if you are hiring a car, the hire company may ask for an IDP even where the general rule is not obvious.
• Apply before you travel: UK IDPs are obtained in person from certain shops with PayPoint and currently cost £5.50.
• Multi-country trips need extra care: you may need to check more than one country and, in rare cases, more than one permit type.

What an International Driving Permit actually does

An International Driving Permit, usually shortened to IDP, is a supporting document for driving abroad. It helps translate and present the details of your UK driving licence in a format recognised by other countries. It is useful for police checks, border situations, insurance procedures and car hire desks where the local staff need to understand your licence quickly.

It is not an international licence in the sense many travellers imagine. It does not give you permission to drive if your UK licence is expired, suspended, provisional or not valid for the vehicle category you are hiring. It also does not replace your passport, identity document, booking voucher, payment card or any check code required by the supplier.

Important: travel with the physical driving licence requested by the supplier. An IDP on its own is normally not enough to collect or drive a hire car.

When UK drivers usually do not need an IDP in Europe

For many common European car hire trips, a UK photocard driving licence is enough. GOV.UK states that 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.

That does not mean every European document situation is identical. You may still need to check more carefully if you have a paper driving licence, if your licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, if the hire company asks for an IDP in its supplier conditions, or if you are driving through countries outside the usual European route.

For car hire, the safest approach is to check two things: the official country guidance and the supplier conditions shown for the offer. The first tells you the legal driving-document position; the second tells you what the desk may require before handing over the keys.

The 3 types of IDP: 1926, 1949 and 1968

One of the most common mistakes is assuming that there is only one International Driving Permit. There are 3 types used in UK guidance: 1926, 1949 and 1968. The type depends on the country or territory where you will drive, not on the car hire company alone.

If you are travelling through more than one country, check each country separately. GOV.UK notes that you might need more than one type of IDP for a multi-country trip.

Examples for popular car hire destinations

The table below is a practical orientation for UK travellers, not a substitute for checking official guidance before booking. IDP requirements can depend on the destination, length of stay, licence format and supplier conditions.

If your destination is not listed in the official table, GOV.UK recommends checking with the embassy of the country you are travelling to. For car hire, also check the supplier conditions before you pay.

How to get an IDP in the UK

GOV.UK says UK drivers can get an IDP in person from certain shops that have PayPoint. The current cost shown by GOV.UK is £5.50. You must live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, have a full UK driving licence and be aged 18 or over.

Apply before you travel. This is not a document to leave until the car hire desk, because you may not be able to obtain the correct permit once you are already abroad. If several drivers will be named on the rental agreement, each driver who needs an IDP should have their own permit.

What to show at the hire desk

The IDP is only one part of the document set. At pick-up, the supplier may ask for your driving licence, passport or ID, booking voucher, payment card in the main driver's name and, for some UK licences, a check code or paper counterpart.

If your licence was issued in Great Britain, some suppliers may ask for a DVLA check code so they can view endorsements and licence information. GOV.UK also notes that drivers with a Northern Ireland licence may need to show the paper counterpart to the rental company.

Before travelling, compare the supplier's document list with our car hire documents checklist. If you are unsure whether your licence, IDP or payment card will be accepted, use the car hire requirements guide as a broader pre-pick-up check.

Why supplier conditions can be stricter than you expect

Country rules and supplier rules are related, but they are not the same thing. A country may allow a UK photocard licence in many situations, while a local hire company may still ask for additional proof, an IDP or a translation-style document for certain licences or rental locations.

This matters because car hire refusal usually happens at the desk, not when you read general travel advice. If the supplier conditions say an IDP is required, treat that as part of the collection requirement. If the official rule and the supplier wording appear to conflict, clarify before booking rather than arguing at pick-up.

Important: a low price is not useful if the driver cannot collect the car. Document requirements should be checked before comparing the final cost of the booking.

IDP for additional drivers

Every driver named on the rental agreement must meet the licence and document requirements. If the main driver has the correct IDP but the additional driver does not, the additional driver may be refused even though the booking itself can continue.

This is especially important on long road trips, family holidays and multi-country routes where driving duties are supposed to be shared. Check each driver's licence country, licence format, age, ID, payment-card role if relevant and IDP requirement before departure.

If you plan to share driving, make sure each additional driver is added properly to the rental agreement. Letting someone drive without being authorised by the supplier can create serious problems if there is damage, an accident, a fine or an insurance claim.

IDP, cross-border travel and insurance are separate checks

An IDP does not give permission to cross a border in a hire car. It also does not change the security deposit, reduce the excess, extend insurance or make restricted vehicle use acceptable. It is a driving-document requirement, not a replacement for supplier authorisation.

If your route includes more than one country, check three things separately: whether the driver needs an IDP in each country, whether the supplier allows the car to cross each border, and whether insurance and roadside assistance remain valid for the whole route.

For route planning, use the cross-border car hire rules together with the IDP check. The two topics overlap, but one does not solve the other.

Common IDP mistakes to avoid

International Driving Permit checklist

Conclusion: check the IDP before the trip, not at the desk

An International Driving Permit is a small document, but it can decide whether a car hire booking goes smoothly. For UK photocard licence holders travelling in much of Europe, it is often not needed. For other destinations, licence formats, longer trips or stricter supplier conditions, it can become essential.

The safest approach is to check the official country rule, then check the supplier conditions for the actual offer. With gocarhire.co.uk, compare the deal, but also read the document requirements before you book. That is what prevents a cheap reservation from becoming a refused collection.