Rules for Foreigners: How to Drive in the U.S. Without Getting Fined

For those looking to visit the United States and travel the country by car, there are a few requirements you’ll need to meet in order to drive legally. If you plan to rent a car, you must be at least twenty-five years old and may be asked to provide an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in your home country.

The IDP should be presented alongside the license issued by your home country. To avoid any issues, make sure it is valid and includes a photograph.

What is an international driving permit?

Thanks to two international treaties—the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic—countries around the world recognize each other’s driving licenses.

These permits are issued by the same country that issues the license and cannot be obtained in the U.S. for those with a foreign license. International Drivers Association, one of the companies that distributes IDPs, has published videos on how to obtain the permit in many countries including, Germany and Indonesia.

Advice straight from the source

Enterprise does not require all tourists to provide an IDP but recommends that those with licenses not in English obtain one before their trip. An IDP is required for tourists from countries that issue licenses “in a language other than English and the letters are not English,” citing Japanese, Arabic, and Russian as examples.

Lastly, travelers planning to spend time in Arizona, California, Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Colorado “may be asked to provide additional valid government-issued documentation,” warns Enterprise.

What happens if you are pulled over with a foreign license?

Even if you aren’t going to be renting a car, it might be a good idea to obtain an IDP in preparation for your trip to the U.S. USA.gov, a government website, says that not all states require tourists to have an IDP to drive, and recommends that visitors figure out whether or not there is a law of that nature on the books in the states they plan to visit. If you are pulled over in a state that requires those with a foreign license to obtain an IDP, you could face legal issues that would likely sour your trip.

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