How Much Does an International Driver’s License Cost?

Updated on July 25, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 8 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

An International Driving Permit costs $20 in the United States when issued by AAA or the American Automobile Touring Alliance. The real total is usually $20 to $30 before shipping, depending on whether you supply your own passport photos or use the issuer’s photo service. Mail and online applications can cost more once delivery is added.

AAA charges a $20 permit fee. Its online application also includes a $10 passport photo fee, bringing the starting price to $30 plus shipping. AATA charges $20, a $9 photo-processing fee, and shipping and handling, creating a starting total of $29 plus delivery.

The official U.S. document is called an International Driving Permit, or IDP. It is not an independent driver’s license. It translates the information on a valid U.S. license and must be carried with that license while driving abroad.

Article Highlights

• A U.S. International Driving Permit has a base fee of $20 (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 40 minutes, before taxes).
• AAA online applications start at $30 plus shipping.
• AATA online applications start at $29 plus shipping and handling.
• U.S.-issued IDPs are valid for one year.
• AAA and AATA are the two active U.S.-authorized issuers.
• A digital file sold as an “international license” may not be a valid IDP.
• The permit must be carried with a valid domestic driver’s license.

How Much Does an International Driving Permit Cost?

Application route	Permit cost	Likely added cost	Starting total
AAA in person with your own photos	$20 (about 40 minutes at $30 per hour)	Photo printing, if needed	$20
AAA online	$20	$10 digital photo fee plus shipping	$30 plus shipping
AAA by mail	$20	Two photos, outgoing postage, and return delivery	$20 plus photos and postage
AATA online	$20	$9 photo processing plus shipping and handling	$29 plus delivery

AAA’s current application page lists a $20 permit fee. Online applicants also pay a $10 passport photo fee and the selected shipping charge. The permit is printed and mailed. AAA does not provide a digital IDP.

AATA lists the same $20 base fee plus a $9 image-processing charge and shipping and handling in its current IDP fee details. The exact delivered total appears during the application process because shipping varies.

AAA membership is not required to pay the standard $20 permit fee. Local AAA clubs may offer member pricing on passport photos, but that is separate from the permit charge. The claim that nonmembers routinely pay $40 for the IDP is not supported by the national application price.

What You Are Buying

An International Driving Permit is a standardized translation of the vehicle classes and driving privileges shown on a valid domestic license. It helps police officers, rental desks, and other authorities read license information written in English.

The booklet does not grant driving privileges by itself. A traveler must carry the physical IDP together with the valid U.S. driver’s license used for the application. An expired, suspended, revoked, or otherwise invalid domestic license cannot be made valid by purchasing an IDP.

The permit also does not replace a passport, visa, rental agreement, vehicle registration, or auto insurance. A traveler preparing the required documents may need to budget separately for a U.S. passport, local insurance, road tolls, or a vehicle deposit.

The U.S. State Department advises travelers to obtain an IDP through AAA or AATA before departure and to carry their U.S. license while driving. Its driving abroad guidance also warns that U.S. auto insurance may not provide coverage in another country.

The Real Cost After Photos

The cheapest route is usually an in-person application with two acceptable passport-style photos already prepared. In that case, the direct issuer charge can remain at $20 (about 40 minutes at $30 per hour).

Photo prices vary by retailer and location. Two printed passport photos at a participating store may add about $12 to $20. A traveler paying $20 for the IDP and $11.99 for a separate photo set would spend $31.99 before transportation or parking.

That photo set may contain two prints, which is useful because a mailed AAA application asks for two original passport pictures. Current retail pricing for this errand is covered in the article on UPS passport photo costs.

AAA’s online route bundles the digital photo process into a separate $10 charge. ThePricer calculation: $20 for the permit plus $10 for the photo equals $30 before shipping. That is 50% above the permit-only price, although it removes the need to obtain printed photos first.

AATA’s calculation is similar. The $20 permit plus the $9 image fee equals $29 before delivery. The photo-processing line raises the permit-only amount by 45%.

Online and Mail Delivery Costs

Shipping is the main variable that prevents one fixed online total. Standard delivery costs less than expedited service, while applications sent from overseas may carry larger courier charges.

AAA says online applications require about five business days for processing in addition to return shipping time. Travelers with a close departure date should not assume that paying for fast delivery will shorten the internal processing period.

A mail applicant pays for the application envelope, two original photos, and return delivery. Expedited return service can be requested, but the cost depends on the chosen carrier and destination. A local branch visit can avoid mailing charges when the traveler has enough time and a participating office nearby.

The low advertised price is cheap because it refers only to issuing the permit. It does not include the trip to an office, parking, photos, outgoing postage, tracked return delivery, or replacement travel documents.

A Couple’s Worked Total

Two adults planning to share the driving duties should obtain separate permits. An IDP belongs to one license holder and cannot be shared between travelers.

Using AAA online, the two base permits cost $40. Two digital photo fees add $20, producing a combined starting total of $60 plus shipping.

Using AATA, two permits cost $40 and two image-processing fees add $18. The starting total becomes $58 plus shipping and handling.

ThePricer computed insight: the difference between those two starting totals is only $2. Delivery speed, processing schedule, and application convenience matter more than the base price difference for a two-driver trip.

The permit cost is also small compared with the wider driving budget. An overseas traveler may pay hundreds of dollars for a rental car, insurance, fuel, parking, toll roads, child seats, one-way charges, and deposits. Saving a few dollars on an unofficial document is a poor trade when the rental company or police may reject it.

Official IDP vs Private IDL

Many websites sell products described as an “International Driver’s License,” “International Driving Document,” translation card, digital IDP, or multi-year international license. These names can make the product appear equal to the official permit even when it is not issued by an authorized U.S. organization.

The State Department identifies AAA and AATA as the only active organizations authorized in the United States to issue IDPs that meet the 1949 Convention framework. Its IDP scam warning says other sites may sell fake documents at expensive prices.

A private translation booklet may cost $50 to $100+ and advertise two-year, three-year, or longer validity. A higher price and longer term do not make it the correct document. The buyer may pay several times the official $20 fee for something a destination or rental desk does not accept.

A digital-only product is another warning sign for a U.S. applicant. AAA states that its permits are physically printed and mailed. A phone image or downloadable PDF should not be assumed to replace the physical booklet.

Where an IDP Is Required

Country rules cannot be reduced to one list of places that “accept a U.S. license.” Some destinations require an IDP, others accept a U.S. license for short visits, and some place different rules on residents, tourists, rental customers, or drivers using their own vehicle.

Spain requires U.S. travelers who plan to drive to obtain an IDP before arrival. State Department guidance says the permit and U.S. license must be carried together and notes that driving without the required document can lead to a fine or an impounded rental vehicle under Spain’s traffic rules.

Japan also requires qualifying short-term U.S. visitors to obtain the correct permit before arrival. The State Department warns that online permits from other organizations are not valid there and describes possible penalties in its Japan driving guidance.

Mexico is a different comparison. A valid U.S. driver’s license is recognized, but drivers need Mexican auto insurance and may need a temporary vehicle permit when taking a U.S.-registered vehicle beyond the border zone. Those separate rules appear in the Mexico vehicle requirements.

The lesson is not that an IDP is always mandatory or never needed. The correct answer comes from the destination’s current government guidance, the rental company’s written rules, and the traveler’s immigration or residency status.

When a Local License Is Needed

An IDP is designed mainly for temporary international driving. It does not allow a traveler to ignore residency deadlines or local license-conversion rules.

Singapore requires many foreigners staying less than 12 months to carry a foreign license and IDP. Those residing for more than 12 months must convert to a Singapore license, subject to the applicable rules. The distinction appears in the State Department’s Singapore license guidance.

A frequent traveler cannot renew one U.S. IDP indefinitely while living abroad and assume that it remains a substitute for a local license. AATA states that the U.S. permit is valid for one year and that a new application is required after it expires.

The IDP also becomes unusable when the underlying license expires or loses validity. Driving abroad while the domestic license is suspended can create consequences beyond the original suspended-license costs.

Before Paying the Fee

Check the destination’s current transportation section before submitting the application. Confirm whether an IDP is required by law, requested only by rental companies, or unnecessary for a short tourist visit.

Match the name on the application to the valid U.S. license. Review the expiration date and vehicle classes. Apply early enough to cover processing and physical delivery.

Read the rental agreement separately. A rental company can require documents beyond the legal minimum. It may also impose age limits, young-driver fees, license-holding periods, credit-card deposits, or restrictions on border crossings.

Ask an insurance provider whether the domestic policy extends to the destination. A valid IDP does not create liability, collision, theft, medical, or roadside coverage.

What We Verified

• Checked the standard U.S. permit charge against the current AAA application fee of $20.
• Confirmed that AATA charges $20 plus a $9 photo-processing fee and delivery.
• Cross-referenced the two authorized U.S. issuers with current State Department scam guidance.
• Verified that the physical IDP must accompany the traveler’s valid U.S. driver’s license.
• Confirmed through current country guidance that requirements differ between Spain, Japan, Mexico, and Singapore.

Answers to Common Questions

How much does an International Driving Permit cost at AAA?

The permit costs $20. An AAA online application adds a $10 photo fee and shipping, creating a starting total of $30 plus delivery.

Do I need to be an AAA member?

No. AAA membership is not required to apply for the standard $20 permit.

How long is a U.S. International Driving Permit valid?

It is valid for one year from the issue date, subject to the validity of the accompanying domestic license and the destination’s rules.

Can I use an IDP without my U.S. license?

No. The permit is only valid when carried with the valid domestic driver’s license on which it was issued.

Is a digital International Driving Permit valid?

Do not assume it is. Official U.S. IDPs are physical documents issued through AAA or AATA. A downloadable product from another seller may be rejected.