International Permit

Getting an International Permit right before you travel matters more than most people realise — turning up at a car rental desk abroad without one, when your destination requires it, can mean losing the booking entirely.

An International Driving Permit translates your UK licence into a document recognised by traffic authorities and rental companies in over 150 countries. It doesn’t replace your UK licence — you carry both together — but in the countries that require it, a UK licence alone simply won’t be accepted.

Not every destination needs one, and that’s exactly where people get caught out in both directions: some assume they need an IDP everywhere and pay for one unnecessarily, others assume their UK licence is universally accepted and find out otherwise at the rental desk. Requirements also vary by which IDP convention type applies (1926, 1949, or 1968), so checking your specific destination before you travel is worth the five minutes it takes.

The application itself is quick once you know what’s needed: a valid UK licence, a passport-style photo, your passport, and the completed application form. Same-day issuance is available through authorised channels when you need to travel on short notice, with standard processing typically taking 1 to 2 working days.