Should I get an IDP or IADP?

If you’ve ever applied for an International Driving Permit (IDP) through AAA, you might have noticed that there’s also an option to get an Inter-American Driving Permit (IADP). They sound almost identical, but choosing the wrong one could cause problems once you’re driving abroad. Here’s what you need to know to pick the right permit for your trip.

What’s an IDP?

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a travel document that translates your U.S. driver's license into multiple languages. It’s not a standalone license, as it needs to be carried along with your valid U.S. license. Your IDP lets local authorities abroad confirm that you’re legally allowed to drive. In many countries, if you don’t have an IDP, the police can fine you or impound your car, and rental car agencies may refuse to hand over the keys to your rental. It’s important to note that almost all Latin American countries recognize the use of an IDP.

What’s an IADP?

An Inter-American Driving Permit (IADP) is a document that licenses you to drive a car in another country when accompanied by your home license. It’s similar to the IDP in this sense, but it’s only specific to drivers in North America and South America. The use of an IADP is accepted in the following countries: 

• North America: United States, Mexico

• South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela

• Central America: Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras

• Caribbean: Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominican Republic, Haiti

While some nations (like the Dominican Republic) are not signatories to the 1943 Inter-American Convention, the IADP is still honored according to AAA. Meanwhile, other countries, like Cuba and Panama, despite being signatories, have rescinded their recognition. 

Should I get an IDP or IADP?

We recommend getting an IDP over an IADP unless you intend to drive in Uruguay or Brazil. The fee for both (through the AAA) is the exact same - $20 for each. IDPs are more flexible, as they allow you to drive comfortably in far more countries. Even on Pan-American trips, we would recommend an IDP, as a few countries (like Panama) do not honor the IADP.

Again, the exception is if you intend on driving in Uruguay and Brazil. AAA implies that only those two countries exclusively accept IADPs. There is an uncited notation on Wikipedia suggesting that the AAA, US federal government websites, and state government websites were wrong in assuming that Brazil and Uruguay only accept IADPs. While it is true that Brazil and Uruguay were parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention, nowhere does it state that the agreement terminates the use of IADPs. Furthermore, since the AAA only issues permits under the 1949 Geneva Convention, this implies that IDPs from the United States are technically invalid in Brazil and Uruguay. While there are stories of drivers getting away with just their licenses (example here), we still HEAVILY recommend using an Inter-American Driving Permit in Brazil and Uruguay.

How to Get an IDP or IADP

If you choose to get an IDP or IADP, you have multiple options on how to get it:

Through AAA or AATA Directly: As the only authorized providers of International Driving Permits and Inter-American Permits in the United States, your IDP/IADP must be issued by AAA or AATA. To get an IDP/IADP directly from one of them, you can visit a AAA branch, mail your application to AAA, or apply online. Processing times are same-day if you're in person, take 5-7 weeks if applying by mail abroad, and at least 5 business days plus shipping if done online. The cost from AAA is $20 for the IDP/IADP, $10-20 for passport photos, plus shipping if you don’t get the IDP/IADP in person, which can be quite expensive.

Through Fast IDP: If you’re already abroad and need an IDP/IADP quickly or if you want to avoid the hassle of going to AAA in person, we can help process your application with AAA and have your official IDP/IADP delivered to you as quickly as the next day if you’re in the US or 2-5 days if you’re abroad. What we’ll do is receive your IDP/IADP application, check it for errors, go to AAA to obtain your IDP/IADP, and then ship your IDP/IADP to you anywhere in the world.  

Note – Avoid Fake IDP/IADP Scams: There are many companies online that claim to issue international driving permits, which they also call international driver’s licenses. None of these companies offer legitimate IDP/IADPs for Americans, and Latin American rental companies may not allow you to rent a vehicle if you have one. 

Conclusion

We strongly recommend getting an IDP if you plan on visiting Latin America. However, if you are going to be visiting Uruguay and Brazil, we advise an IADP. We hope this guide helped!

It's best to get an IDP unless you'll be visiting Uruguay or Brazil.