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Apr 20, 2026

Where to Get an International Driving Permit in California

By Jamie Patrick

California is one of the easier states to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) in. The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) and AAA Northern California run dozens of branches between them, and most issue IDPs as a walk-in service. You'll pay $20, hand over a passport-style photo, and walk out with the booklet the same day.

Where to go in California

Coverage is good across the major metros. The branches below have all reliably issued IDPs in the past 12 months, but stock comes and goes. Call before you drive, especially on a Friday or Saturday when demand is highest. Ask the agent point-blank: "Do you have IDP booklets in stock right now?" If they hedge, try another branch.

  • Los Angeles area (ACSC): Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Torrance, Burbank, Glendale, Costa Mesa

  • San Diego area (ACSC): Mission Valley, Carlsbad, Chula Vista

  • Bay Area (AAA Northern California): San Francisco Downtown, Oakland, San Jose Almaden, Walnut Creek, Daly City

  • Sacramento area (AAA Northern California): Sacramento Downtown, Roseville, Elk Grove

  • Central Valley: Fresno, Modesto, Bakersfield

  • Central Coast: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo

Two AAA clubs operate in California and they don't share systems. ACSC covers roughly Los Angeles south, AAA Northern California covers everything else. Either club will issue you an IDP regardless of which side of the state you live on, so pick whichever branch is closest.

What to bring

The list is short. Show up with the items below and you should be in and out in under half an hour.

  • Your valid California driver's license (real ID or standard, either works)

  • Two passport-style photos. If you forget, most branches will take them for $5-15 on the spot.

  • $20 for the IDP itself, plus tax in some branches. Cash, check, or card.

  • A completed AAA IDP application form. The branch has copies, or you can download it ahead of time.

A few things that catch people off-guard. AAA membership is not required to get an IDP. You can be a non-member and walk in. Some ACSC branches add a small processing fee on top of the $20, usually $5-10. The photo quality at AAA varies wildly between branches, so if you have time, bring your own. If the branch happens to be out of booklets when you arrive, the trip is wasted, hence the call-ahead. Booklets in stock means same-day issuance, typically in 15-30 minutes once you're at the counter.

How to Get an IDP as a California Driver

Your International Driving Permit (IDP) has to be issued in the country where your driver's license is issued, which is the US. In the US, only AAA and AATA are authorized to issue IDPs, which means that all the websites offering "digital" or "instant" IDPs are selling fake documents. Below are the four ways to get an official IDP if you have a US driver's license.

1. In person at AAA

As long as you're still in the United States and close to a AAA branch, the least expensive method to get an IDP is to visit a AAA branch in person. You can typically get an IDP for $30-50 and within 30-60 minutes when you visit a AAA office. However, some branches don't carry IDPs or are frequently out of stock, so it's best to call ahead to make sure you can get an IDP if you go in. Steps to obtain an IDP in person:

  • Gather your driver's license, payment method, and recent passport photos (optional).

  • Visit the nearest AAA location that issues IDPs (check the branch's services offered from that link) during operating hours.

  • Fill out AAA's IDP application form, either ahead of time or while you wait.

  • If you didn't bring passport photos, AAA can take them for you for an additional fee ($10-30, depending on the branch).

  • Pay an additional $20 plus tax (sometimes assessed) for processing the IDP. Cash, check, and credit/debit cards are generally accepted.

  • Be prepared to wait for the process to be completed, but after that you'll be able to walk out with your IDP.

2. Online with AAA

AAA now offers an online application option through their partner govWorks, which is linked on the AAA website. Be aware: govWorks has terrible customer reviews, and customers frequently express that their IDPs are never delivered and that Customer Service is difficult to reach.

Steps to get an IDP online from AAA:

  • Visit the AAA website and complete their online IDP application

  • Upload a digital passport photo and your driver's license information

  • Pay the application fee (currently $20 for the IDP booklet, plus $10 for photo processing, and $9-220+ for shipping)

  • Wait for your IDP to be processed (5 days) and mailed to your address (an additional 3-10 days)

Processing times vary, taking at least a week, so this option works best if you're planning ahead and have a reliable mailing address.

3. Online with AATA

AATA (the American Automobile Touring Alliance) is the other organization authorized by the US government to issue IDPs to American drivers. Like AAA, AATA offers an online application process, though its website is only online 8am-5pm Friday through Tuesday. Its application page is not available all other times of the week.

Steps to get an IDP online from AATA:

  • Visit the AATA website and complete their online IDP application

  • Upload a digital passport photo and your driver's license information

  • Submit payment for the application fee (currently $20 for the IDP booklet, plus $7 for photo processing, and $14-165 for shipping)

Similar to AAA, AATA's processing and delivery times require advance planning, typically taking 2-4 days for processing, plus shipping time (2-10 days).

4. Online with Fast IDP (that's us, a faster option for AAA-issued IDPs)

If your timeline is too short for AAA or AATA's online processing times, using Fast IDP to expedite your IDP allows you to get an IDP as soon as the next day with the peace of mind that comes with our 5.0/5.0 average customer reviews.

Steps to obtain an IDP using Fast IDP:

  • Fill out the Apply page on our website. This includes taking photos of the front and back of your driver's license and uploading them on Fast IDP's secure portal, as well as taking passport-style photos of yourself (a decent selfie works).

  • Submit your application and payment, which starts at $73 (all-in, including all fees and taxes), and goes up with faster processing and shipping.

  • The Fast IDP team will review your documents for completeness and reach out to you if they see anything you need to adjust in your application.

  • A Fast IDP team member will go to AAA on your behalf to submit your documents and then will mail your IDP to you via express courier. You'll get an email the evening your IDP is sent with your tracking information and a picture of your IDP.

Even if we can't get an IDP for you, we're always happy to help answer questions for you about IDPs.

Don't get scammed

Whatever you do, don't get scammed by a website claiming to offer an IDP instantly online. Though a company like Fast IDP can legally expedite International Driving Permits from AAA, the only organizations authorized to issue IDPs to US drivers are AAA and AATA. There is no "instant" or "digital" version of a legitimate IDP; your documents must be handled by AAA or AATA for them to issue an IDP, which is always a physical booklet.

Whether you opt for the traditional in-person method, another online option, or working with us, we wish you an easy process getting an IDP and safe driving!