International driving permits for UK drivers from 28 March 2019
The rules for international driving permits have changed. Check which type of IDP you need to ensure that you can legally drive when you visit another country.
Driving abroad
Currently, UK licence holders who live in the UK:
- need an international driving permit (IDP) in addition to their UK driving licence to drive in some countries outside of the EU and EEA
- can drive in all EU and EEA countries using their UK driving licence
The UK issues 3 types of IDP to UK licence holders who are resident in the UK: the 1926 IDP, the 1949 IDP and the 1968 IDP.
The type of IDP you need depends on the country you are driving in.
Driving abroad in countries outside the EU and EEA from 28 March 2019
On 28 March 2019, some countries stopped recognising 1926 and 1949 IDPs issued by the UK. Instead you may need a 1968 IDP to drive in these countries.
Check which type of IDP you need to ensure that you have the correct documentation for your travels.
Driving in the EU and EEA from 12 April 2019
If there is an EU Exit deal, UK licence holders will be able to continue to drive in all EU and EEA countries using their UK driving licence.
If there is no EU Exit deal, the government will seek to put in place new arrangements for EU and EEA countries to recognise UK driving licences when people are visiting, for example on holiday or business trips. Until such arrangements are in place, UK driving licence holders may need an IDP in addition to their UK driving licence to drive when visiting EU and EEA countries.
Each EU and EEA country will decide if they require a foreign driver to have an IDP, in addition to a driving licence, to legally drive in their country.
In some circumstances you may need more than one IDP. For example, when driving through France (1968 IDP) to Spain (1949 IDP).
From 12 April 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal or any other relevant agreement, you may need a 1968 IDP to drive in these EU and EEA countries:
| Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria | Croatia | Czech Republic |
| Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany |
| Greece | Hungary | Italy | Latvia | Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | Netherlands | Norway | Poland | Portugal |
| Romania | Slovakia | Slovenia | Sweden |
From 12 April 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal, you may need a 1949 IDP to drive in these EU and EEAcountries:
- Cyprus
- Iceland
- Malta
- Spain
Ireland has ratified the 1949 road traffic convention but does not require foreign drivers to carry an IDP in addition to their driving licence. As such, if you hold a UK driving licence you will not need an IDP to drive in Ireland from 12 April 2019.
From 12 April 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal, you may need a 1926 IDP to drive in Liechtenstein.
How to get an IDP
You can get 1926, 1949 and 1968 IDPs over the counter from 2,500 UK post offices.
Each IDP will cost £5.50.
UK licence holders who live in the EU or EEA
If you are currently using a UK driving licence and live in an EU or EEA country, from 12 April 2019 you cannot use an IDP to guarantee that your UKlicence will be recognised in that country.
If you wish to continue to drive, you should exchange your UK licence with a local licence, where this option exists.
While the UK is a member of the EU, UK driving licences are directly exchangeable for EU and EEAcountry licences. From 12 April 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, this licence exchange arrangement will stop. Instead you will need to re-take your driving test in the EU country where you live to be able to carry on driving there.
If you exchange your licence, you will be able to re-gain your UK licence when you return to live in the UK, provided you passed your driving test in the UKor a designated country.
See also
This guidance expands on the driving technical notice published in September 2018.
Published 14 January 2019
Last updated 28 March 2019 + show all updates
Last updated 28 March 2019 + show all updates
