Expired International Driver’s License? What to Do Next

An expired international driver’s license is easy to miss until a rental desk points it out. Once the end date on your International Driving Permit (IDP) has passed, the permit is no longer valid, and you can’t count on a grace period. Here is what that means and how to sort it out quickly.

Does an international driver’s license expire?

Yes. Every international driver’s license, properly called an International Driving Permit, has an issue date and an end date. Depending on the convention it was issued under, it lasts up to one year (1949 Geneva Convention) or up to three years (1968 Vienna Convention), and never longer than the national driving licence it translates.

The validity dates are printed on the permit itself. Our guide on how long an international driving permit is valid explains the rules in more detail.

Can you drive with an expired international driver’s license?

You shouldn’t rely on it. In a country that asks visitors for an IDP, an expired permit counts the same as having no permit at all. In practice that can mean:

• a rental company refusing to hand over the car;
• problems at a roadside check, where you’ll be asked for your licence and a valid permit;
• questions from your insurer if something happens while you’re driving without valid documents.

Some countries don’t require an IDP at all for short visits. Check the rules for your destination in our country driving guides before you travel.

What to do if your IDP has expired

• 1. Check your driving licence. Your national licence must be valid. If it has expired too, renew it with your licensing authority first.
• 2. Get a new IDP. An expired permit can’t be extended, but you can get a new one with new dates. If you still have your old permit, our IDP Renewal service uses it to check your details: upload it with your licence, a photo and your signature, and a member of our team reviews everything before your new IDP is emailed to you.
• 3. No old permit to hand? Apply for a new International Driving Permit from scratch instead.
• 4. Carry both documents. Your IDP goes together with your licence, so keep them together whenever you drive.

What if you’re already abroad?

You don’t need to fly home. An online renewal works from anywhere: you take the photos with your phone, and your new IDP arrives by email as a PDF that you can keep on your phone and print at a hotel or copy shop. Requirements vary by country and rental company, so check what they accept before you set off.

How to avoid an expired IDP next time

• Put the end date of your permit in your phone calendar, with a reminder a month before.
• Check your permit before every trip, not just the first one.
• If you travel often, add extra years when you renew, as long as your licence stays valid for that long.
• Keep your driving licence in date: an IDP can never outlast it.

International DL is a private company, not a government agency. The IDP we issue is a certified translation of your driving licence, so always carry it with your licence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a grace period after an IDP expires?

You shouldn’t count on one. Once the end date has passed, treat the permit as invalid and get a new one before you drive.

Can I renew an expired international driver’s license?

Not by extending it, but you can get a new one with new dates. Our IDP Renewal service issues a new IDP from your expired permit after a review by our team.

Do I need my old IDP to get a new one?

For our IDP Renewal service, yes: you upload it so we can check your details. If you don’t have it, you can apply for a new IDP instead.

What if my driving licence has also expired?

Renew your licence first. An IDP is only valid together with a valid national driving licence.

Can I get a new IDP while I’m abroad?

Yes. The process is online and your new IDP is emailed to you, so you can do it from anywhere.