- Three types exist: 1926, 1949 and 1968.
- GOV.UK examples: 1926 for Mexico and Somalia; 1949 for Canada, Japan and Spain; 1968 for France, Germany and Italy.
- The fee is £5.50, in person at certain shops with PayPoint.
- Travelling through more than one country might mean more than one type.
What the numbers mean
The numbers refer to the international road traffic agreements that created each format. You do not choose a type for convenience; your destination decides it. GOV.UK's country table, which lists the type needed for each destination, is the only list to rely on, and the examples below are samples taken from it.
| Type | GOV.UK examples |
|---|---|
| 1926 | Mexico, Somalia |
| 1949 | Canada, Japan, Spain |
| 1968 | France, Germany, Italy |
Do not read the table as the full set. Some countries on the list have more than one entry, and a few allow short stays without a permit; for example, GOV.UK mentions Austria allowing up to 6 months and Cyprus 30 days with a photocard licence.
Choosing the right one
- List every country you will drive in, including transit countries.
- Look each one up in the GOV.UK table and write down the type.
- If the types differ, ask whether you need more than one permit; GOV.UK warns this can happen.
- Check whether a UK photocard licence is enough instead. In the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein it is.
- Buy the permit in person at a PayPoint shop for £5.50, carrying your valid GB or Northern Ireland licence.
Spain appears under 1949 and France under 1968 in the GOV.UK examples, but a UK photocard holder driving in the EU does not need either. Read the country entry, not the type alone.
Why sellers blur this
A site that sells one 'international' permit as valid everywhere is ignoring the point of the table. You discover it at a hire desk or a police stop in the country where it is hardest to fix, with your fee and personal details already gone. The red flags are listed on fake international driving permits.
If you hold a paper licence
GOV.UK says paper licence holders must update to a photocard or get an IDP, and that paper licence holders may need a permit in some countries where photocard holders do not. The detail is on IDP and the paper licence.
- The permit type matches the country table for every stop on your route.
- You carry your driving licence as well as the permit.
- The permit came from a PayPoint shop, not a website.
- You paid £5.50, not a 'service' price.
The basics are on the international driving permit.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three IDP types?
1926, 1949 and 1968, according to GOV.UK. Each applies to a different list of countries, so your destination decides which one you need.
Which type is for France?
GOV.UK lists France under the 1968 type, alongside Germany and Italy. A UK photocard licence holder does not need an IDP in the EU, so check the country entry before buying anything.
Which type is for Canada or Japan?
GOV.UK gives Canada, Japan and Spain as examples of the 1949 type. Read the country's own entry on GOV.UK, because it may add conditions or allow short stays without a permit.
Can one permit cover several countries?
Not necessarily. GOV.UK warns that travelling through more than one country might mean more than one type of permit, so list every country on your route and check each.
What does an IDP cost?
£5.50 on GOV.UK, in person at certain shops with PayPoint, with a valid GB or Northern Ireland licence. A site charging more, or selling a single 'worldwide' permit, is not the official route.