Apply for an International Driver's Permit in person or by mail. You'll need to present of your valid U.S. drivers license and you must supply two passport-type photos. The permit is issued by only two U.S. Department of State authorized organizations in the U.S., the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. The permit is good for one year from the issuing date. You don't have to be a member of either organization to get the permit.
Pay the nominal fee for the International Driver's Permit, plus the cost of mailing the completed permit back to you. Mailing costs vary according to how fast you want the permit to arrive. ALL fees are payable by U. S. bank check, money order, Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Discover Card. Processing of the permit usually takes up to 15 days, but expedited processing as short as 2 days.
Carry both your U.S. driver's license and the International Driver's Permit when traveling in a foreign country. Recognize that the permit is not a new driver's license. It is a translation of the information on your valid U.S. driver's license into several major foreign languages. This makes it easier for authorities in foreign countries to understand the information on your driver's license in their native languages or a language they are more likely to understand. The permit is available to anyone over 18 who has held a valid driver's his home country for six months or longer.
