Before the UK officially left the European Union, there was much speculation that British motorists would require an International Driving Permit (IDP) to travel on the continent.
Thankfully, this is not the case.
As part of the Brexit deal agreed between the UK and the EU, holders of a photocard driving licence issued in the UK do not need an IDP to drive in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
The only exceptions are if you hold a paper driving licence, or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man or Jersey. In these cases you should check with the embassy of the country you intend to drive in.
You still need an International Driving Permit – in addition to your UK licence – for driving in many parts of the world. Read on to find out more.
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit allows you to drive in countries where your UK licence is not considered sufficient on its own. In the past, these have included the USA, Japan and Brazil.
Around the world, an IDP is currently required or recommended in more than 140 countries.
The Post Office website has a useful IDP checker tool that shows you where a permit is needed.
How do I get an International Driving Permit?
Go to your nearest Post Office that offers an IDP service and take along with your photocard driving licence and a passport photo. You’ll also need your passport as proof of identity if your driving licence is the old-style paper version.
It’ll cost you £5.50 per permit (you may need more than one) and shouldn’t take too long. Use the checker tool above to see which permits you need.
What will I need to drive in the EU?
If you’re a UK resident who intends to drive in the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, your insurance policy will provide a minimum of third-party cover. This is not necessarily the case for other parts of the world.
Wherever you drive abroad, you will need to carry a ‘green card’ as proof of insurance. Yoy may also need a separate green card for a caravan or trailer.
Which IDP do you need?
| Country | IDP | Other requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 1968 | Â | |
| Algeria | 1949 | Â | |
| Andorra | 1949 | Â | |
| Argentina | 1949 | Â | |
| Armenia | 1968 | Â | |
| Australia | 1949 | Â | |
| Austria | 1968 | Â | |
| Azerbaijan | 1968 | Â | |
| Bahamas | 1968 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Bahrain | 1968 | IDPÂ 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 | Â | |
| Barbados | 1949 | Â | |
| Belarus | 1968 | Â | |
| Belgium | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1968 | Â | |
| Botswana | 1949 | IDPÂ needed for car hire. | |
| Brazil | 1968 | You need to get a certified translation of your IDP from the British consulate. | |
| Bulgaria | 1968 | You do not need an IDP to drive here. | |
| Burkina Faso | 1949 | Â | |
| Cambodia | 1949 | Â | |
| Canada | 1949 | Â | |
| Cape Verde | 1968 | Â | |
| Central African Republic | 1968 | Â | |
| Chile | 1949 | Â | |
| Congo | 1949 | Â | |
| Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | 1968 |  | |
| Croatia | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Cyprus | 1949 | 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 | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Denmark | 1968 | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days. | |
| Dominican Republic | 1949 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Ecuador | 1949 | Â | |
| Egypt | 1949 | Â | |
| Estonia | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Finland | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. | |
| France | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Georgia | 1968 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Germany | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Greece | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Guyana | 1968 | Â | |
| Haiti | 1949 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Hungary | 1968 | 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 | 1949 | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 30 days. | |
| India | 1949 | Â | |
| Iran | 1968 | Â | |
| Iraq | 1968 | Â | |
| Ireland | 1968 | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. | |
| Israel | 1968 | Â | |
| Italy | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Japan | 1949 | Â | |
| Jordan | 1949 | Â | |
| Kazakhstan | 1968 | Â | |
| Kenya | 1968 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Kuwait | 1968 | Â | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 1968 | Â | |
| Laos | 1949 | Â | |
| Latvia | 1968 | You do not need an IDP to drive here. | |
| Lebanon | 1949 | Â | |
| Lesotho | 1949 | Â | |
| Liberia | 1968 | Â | |
| Libya | 1949 | Â | |
| Liechtenstein | 1926 | You do not need an IDP here. | |
| Lithuania | 1968 | You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months. | |
| Luxembourg | 1968 |  You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months. | |
| Macao (Macau) | 1949 | Â | |
| Madagascar | 1949 | Â | |
| Malawi | 1949 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Malaysia (Sabah) | 1949 | Â | |
| Mali | 1949 | Â | |
| Malta | 1949 | 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 | Â | |
| Moldova | 1968 | Â | |
| Monaco | 1968 | Â | |
| Mongolia | 1968 | Â | |
| Montenegro | 1968 | Â | |
| Morocco | 1968 | Â | |
| Myanmar (previously Burma) | 1968 | Â | |
| 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 | 1968 | You do not need an IDP to drive here. | |
| New Zealand | 1949 | Â | |
| Niger | 1968 | Â | |
| Nigeria | 1949 | Â | |
| North Macedonia | 1968 | Â | |
| Norway | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Papua New Guinea | 1949 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 30 days. | |
| Paraguay | 1949 | Â | |
| Peru | 1968 | Â | |
| Philippines | 1968 | IDPÂ needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Poland | 1968 |  You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months. | |
| Portugal | 1968 |  You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months. | |
| Qatar | 1968 | Â | |
| Romania | 1968 | 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 | Â | |
| Rwanda | 1949 | Â | |
| San Marino | 1968 | Â | |
| Saudi Arabia | 1968 | IDPÂ needed for car hire. | |
| Senegal | 1968 | Â | |
| Serbia | 1968 | Â | |
| Seychelles | 1968 | Â | |
| Sierra Leone | 1949 | Â | |
| Singapore | 1949 | IDPÂ 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 | 1968 | You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days. | |
| Somalia | 1926 | Â | |
| 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 | Â | |
| Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) | 1949 |  You do not need an IDP 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 | 1968 | You do not need an IDP for periods up to 12 months. | |
| Switzerland | None | You do not need an IDP to drive here. | |
| Syria | 1949 | Â | |
| Tajikistan | 1968 | Â | |
| Thailand | 1949 | Â | |
| Togo | 1949 | Â | |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 1949 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Tunisia | 1968 | Â | |
| Turkey | 1968 | Â | |
| Turkmenistan | 1968 | Â | |
| Uganda | 1949 | IDPÂ needed for stays longer than 90 days. | |
| Ukraine | 1968 | Â | |
| United Arab Emirates | 1968 | Â | |
| 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 | Â | |
| Uzbekistan | 1968 | Â | |
| Vatican City | 1949 | Â | |
| Venezuela | 1949 | Â | |
| Vietnam | 1968 | Â | |
| Zimbabwe | 1968 | Â |
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Seems to give good info on licence status & use in the eu , ie Ireland seem to have there own rules set even though there has been a deal but not finalised, This site tells it where its at, Others have it up that you cant do this & you cant do that which totally confuses people.