International Driving Permits and Brexit: what you need to know

You need an International Driving Permit in addition to your UK licence to drive in many countries around the world. We explain the rules.

International Driving Permit Brexit

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?

International Driving Permit Brexit

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?

International Driving Permit Brexit

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  
Algeria 1949  
Andorra 1949  
Argentina 1949  
Armenia 1968  
Australia 1949  
Austria 1968  
Azerbaijan 1968  
Bahamas 1968 IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Bahrain 1968 IDP 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  
Barbados 1949  
Belarus 1968  
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  
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1968  
Botswana 1949 IDP 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  
Cambodia 1949  
Canada 1949  
Cape Verde 1968  
Central African Republic 1968  
Chile 1949  
Congo 1949  
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  
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  
Denmark 1968 You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days.
Dominican Republic 1949 IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Ecuador 1949  
Egypt 1949  
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  
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  
Georgia 1968 IDP 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  
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  
Guyana 1968  
Haiti 1949 IDP 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  
Iran 1968  
Iraq 1968  
Ireland 1968 You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months.
Israel 1968  
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  
Japan 1949  
Jordan 1949  
Kazakhstan 1968  
Kenya 1968 IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Kuwait 1968  
Kyrgyzstan 1968  
Laos 1949  
Latvia 1968 You do not need an IDP to drive here. 
Lebanon 1949  
Lesotho 1949  
Liberia 1968  
Libya 1949  
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  
Madagascar 1949  
Malawi 1949 IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Malaysia (Sabah) 1949  
Mali 1949  
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  
Moldova 1968  
Monaco 1968  
Mongolia 1968  
Montenegro 1968  
Morocco 1968  
Myanmar (previously Burma) 1968  
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  
Niger 1968  
Nigeria 1949  
North Macedonia 1968  
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  
Papua New Guinea 1949 IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days.
Paraguay 1949  
Peru 1968  
Philippines 1968 IDP 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  
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  
Rwanda 1949  
San Marino 1968  
Saudi Arabia 1968 IDP needed for car hire.
Senegal 1968  
Serbia 1968  
Seychelles 1968  
Sierra Leone 1949  
Singapore 1949 IDP 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  
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  
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  
Tajikistan 1968  
Thailand 1949  
Togo 1949  
Trinidad & Tobago 1949 IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Tunisia 1968  
Turkey 1968  
Turkmenistan 1968  
Uganda 1949 IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Ukraine 1968  
United Arab Emirates 1968  
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  
Uzbekistan 1968  
Vatican City 1949  
Venezuela 1949  
Vietnam 1968  
Zimbabwe 1968  

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Motoring Research team
Motoring Research team
News, reviews, advice and features from the award-winning Motoring Resarch editorial team.

1 COMMENT

  1. 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.

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