ESTA INFORMATION
Driving in the USA: which licence do you need?
There is no single rule for the whole of the United States: whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to the driving licence issued in your home country is decided by each state.One thing is certain: the US does not issue IDPs to visitors — you must obtain one before you leave.
Driver licensing is a matter for each state
According to the official government portal USAGov, depending on the state, you may need an International Driving Permit as well as your national driving licence.
- Not every state requires an IDP — check with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of each state in which you plan to drive
- According to USAGov, citizens of some countries do not need an IDP at all — to find out whether this applies to you, ask the driver licensing authority in your home country (Australia, Ireland, New Zealand or Singapore) or your country's embassy in the United States
- Road rules, speed limits and minimum driving ages also differ from state to state — the relevant DMV website is authoritative
International Driving Permit: obtain it before you travel
- The United States does not issue IDPs to foreign visitors. The responsible country is the one that issued your driving licence — contact the motor vehicle or driver licensing authority in that country
- An IDP issued for use in the United States is valid for 1 year there
- An IDP does not replace your driving licence — USAGov refers to an IDP in addition to your national licence, so carry both
Two examples: New York and Pennsylvania
Two states show how differently the rules are worded. These examples apply only to the state concerned:
- New York: you may drive in New York State with a valid driving licence from another country. You only need a New York State licence if you become a resident there.
- Pennsylvania: a valid foreign driving licence entitles you to drive for up to one year from your date of entry into the United States, or until the licence expires, whichever comes first. An IDP is “strongly recommended, but not required”.
Sources and currency
- USAGov — Driving in the U.S. as a non-citizen (usa.gov)
- New York DMV — Drivers from other countries (dmv.ny.gov)
- Pennsylvania DMV — FAQ (dmv.pa.gov)
Last checked: 12 October 2026. This website is an independent information service and is not an official website of the US government or of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).