Does AAA issue an "international driving license"?
Strictly speaking, no country issues a standalone "international driving license." What travelers mean — and what AAA (American Automobile Association) actually issues — is the International Driving Permit (IDP): an official translation of your U.S. driver's licence into the languages of the UN 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna conventions. It is carried together with your licence so police and rental agencies abroad can read it.
License vs permit — why the name confusion?
Search "international driving license" and "international driving permit" and you'll land on the same document. "License" stuck in everyday speech because the booklet looks and feels like one, but legally it has no driving power of its own — it only translates the licence you already hold. That's also why an IDP can never be issued to someone without a valid national licence, and why it expires the moment your underlying licence does.
If you want the branch and mail application details — fee, photos, processing times — they're covered step by step in our AAA International Driving Permit application guide.
Two ways to get the document
- Through AAA: the official U.S. State Department–authorized booklet, issued in branch or by mail.
- Online (International DL): a digital certified translation of your licence issued in minutes, from $39.00, with an optional printed booklet shipped worldwide — no branch visit.
Start your online application, or see the full side-by-side breakdown on our AAA alternative comparison page.
Whichever route you choose, an IDP never replaces your national licence — always carry both, plus your passport.
Is the AAA international driving license the same as an IDP?
Yes. There is no separate "international driving license" — the document AAA issues is the International Driving Permit (IDP), an official translation of your U.S. licence recognised under the UN road-traffic conventions.
Why is it called a "license" if AAA issues a "permit"?
Habit. Travelers say "international driving license" because it sounds like a licence you obtain, but no country issues a standalone international licence. The permit simply translates the licence you already hold so officials abroad can read it.
Will an international driving license work in every country?
The IDP format is recognised in 150+ countries that follow the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna conventions, but it only works together with your national licence — carry both whenever you drive abroad.
Can I get an international driving license without visiting AAA?
Yes. You can order a digital IDP entirely online — no branch, no mailed photos — starting at $39.00, delivered to your inbox in minutes with an optional printed booklet shipped worldwide.
Get your international driving license online — no branch visit
Digital issuance plus optional worldwide shipping — ready before you fly.
Get my IDP →International DL is not affiliated with AAA. An IDP is a translation companion to your national licence, not a standalone government licence. Acceptance varies by country — confirm requirements before you travel.