- CAA is the sole authorized issuer of Canadian international driving permits, under a UN-approved mandate; CAA says any non-CAA IDP is fake.
- Fee: $32.00 CDN as of 1 December 2025; pricing may vary by regional club, and shipping may be extra.
- Eligibility: 18 or older, with a valid provincial or territorial driver's licence (not a learner's permit).
- Validity: one year from issue or until the associated driver's licence expires, whichever comes first. Some countries impose extra limits on how long a visitor may drive.
Why this is a scam topic
About 2,400 people a month search “international driving permit canada” in our DataForSEO pull. It is a common, legitimate need: a Canadian going abroad who is told a rental company wants a permit. That is exactly the kind of demand that look-alike sites chase. In the Google Canada results we looked at in October 2026, an online-ordering site that is not CAA appeared among the first results for the phrase, alongside CAA's own pages, rental companies and driving schools. We did not use that site, and we do not link to it.
CAA's own page says that scammers use its logo in fake emails, and that unauthorized IDPs will not be recognized by foreign governments.
What the official process is
| Question | CAA's answer |
|---|---|
| Who may issue an IDP in Canada? | Only CAA, under a UN-approved mandate. |
| How much? | $32.00 as of 1 December 2025. Regional clubs may price differently; check your club. |
| Who can apply? | People 18 or older with a valid provincial or territorial driver's licence, not a learner's permit. |
| How long is it valid? | One year from issue or until your licence expires, whichever is first. |
We did not open CAA's application form on this visit, so we do not list the documents it requires; start from CAA's page.
How a fake IDP is sold
- A website or email says it can issue an international licence online, often with CAA's logo.
- It takes your details and a fee without checking that you hold a Canadian provincial licence, which CAA requires.
- You receive a document, or nothing. Where a document arrives, CAA says any permit not issued by CAA is fake.
- You discover it at the rental counter or a roadside stop abroad, when an official does not recognize it.
What it risks
- Money: the fee, and any copy of your licence or passport you sent.
- Legal: a forged or unauthorized permit used as genuine can fall under Criminal Code section 368 in Canada, and abroad under that country's law, which we have not researched.
- Insurance and rental: a document nobody recognizes does not help you if something happens.
The other direction: visitors to Canada
If you are driving in Canada on a foreign licence, the rule is set by the province. Ontario's handbook says a visitor must hold a valid licence from home and, if staying more than three months, an international driving permit from their own country, and is not eligible for an Ontario licence. Other provinces differ; find yours on licence by province.
How to tell the official source from a look-alike
| Question | CAA's published answer | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Who is the issuer? | CAA only, under a UN-approved mandate. | Any other company offering “international licences”, even one using CAA's logo. |
| Who may apply? | People 18 or older with a valid provincial or territorial licence, not a learner's permit. | No licence check, or an offer to a person with no licence at all. |
| What does it cost? | $32.00 as of 1 December 2025; regional clubs may differ. | A price far above that, or a monthly “membership”. |
| How long does it last? | One year, or until the licence expires if sooner. | A promise of a permit valid for many years. |
| Where do I start? | CAA's own pages, reached by an address you type yourself. | An email using CAA's logo; CAA says scammers do this. |
Check the destination country's own rules as well. CAA notes that certain countries impose additional restrictions on how long a visitor may drive, and a permit does not change that.
Where to report
Report a fake IDP site to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police, and tell CAA, which says it is aware of fake emails. If you paid, follow what to do if you paid a scammer.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues international driving permits in Canada?
Only CAA, the Canadian Automobile Association, under a UN-approved mandate. CAA says any IDP not issued by CAA is fake.
How much does an international driving permit cost in Canada?
$32.00 as of 1 December 2025 according to CAA's page, checked 5 October 2026. Regional clubs may price differently and shipping may be extra.
How long is a Canadian IDP valid?
One year from issue or until the driver's licence it accompanies expires, whichever comes first.
Who can get an IDP in Canada?
People 18 or older who hold a valid provincial or territorial driver's licence; a learner's permit does not qualify.
Can I buy an international driver's licence online from another site?
CAA says only it is authorized to issue IDPs in Canada and that any permit issued by anyone else is fake, so a permit from another seller will not be recognized abroad.
Do I need an IDP to drive in Ontario as a visitor?
Ontario's handbook says a visitor staying more than three months must hold an international driving permit from their own country, along with a valid licence from home.