Car rental providers have specific rules as to which driving licences they will accept in the United Kingdom — read on to find out more.
You may not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) if your drivers licence is issued in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA. Only those with a licence that is not printed fully in English will need an IDP. Remember that if you are asked to travel in the UK with an IDP, you will still need to present your original drivers licence when you pick up your rental car. The International Driving Permit serves as a translation only, and will not be accepted if it is not accompanied by your licence.
Usually, an International Driving Permit is issued by monitoring organisations in the country in which you are licenced to drive. So if you are a foreign visitor to the UK, you cannot be issued an IDP in the UK. You will need to apply for your permit in your country of residence. Note that an IDP is only valid for one year from the date of issue and it cannot be renewed. You will need to apply for a new one when your existing IDP expires.
Important InformationWhat you need to know when applying for an IDP
You can only apply for an International Driving Permit in the country where you are licenced to drive. You will need to pay to get your IDP, and the permit is only valid for a period of one year after it has been issued. To obtain your IDP, you will need to prepare a few documents which may include your original valid passport as proof of identification, a passport sized photograph, and a copy of your drivers licence.
