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Driving & Car Rentals Abroad with
Australian Driver's License
Contents
Check if you are allowed to apply for an International Driver's Permit (IDP)
IDP requirements and car rental policies
How to get an International Driver's Permit (IDP)
Why should you get an IDP
Check if you are allowed to apply for an International Driver's Permit (IDP)
You may need an International Driver's Permit (IDP) to drive in some countries. Your eligibility for application depends on:
1. The country you’re visiting
2. Meeting the age requirement of the destination country (usually18 years old)
3. Having a valid Australian driver's license (learner's permit is not allowed)
4. The planned duration of your stay (usually 1-12 months)
IDP requirements and car rental policies
The countries or territories listed below are the ones most visited by Australian citizens or Australian driver's license holders.
Country / Territories | Convention Ratified | IDP Requirements | Car Rental Age Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
New Zealand | 1949 | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in New Zealand. No need to present an IDP. | You need to be at least 18 years old to drive a rental car in New Zealand. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Canada | 1949 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Austrilia driver's license to be valid to drive in Canada. | You need to be at least 18 years old to drive a rental car in Canada. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
U.S.A. | 1949 | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in the USA. No need to present an IDP (note exceptions for certain states). | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in the U.S.A. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
California | None ( State of the USA) | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in the state of California. No need to present an IDP. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in California, U.S.A. If you are under age 25, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Hawaii | None ( State of the USA) | You need an IDP supplemented with your Canadian driver's license to be valid to drive in the state of Hawaii. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Hawaii, U.S.A. If you are under age 25, young driver fees are likely to be collected(subject to rental car groups). |
Italy | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Italy. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Italy. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Ireland | 1949 | An Austrlia driver's license alone is valid to drive in Ireland. No need to present an IDP. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Ireland. If you are under age 25, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Germany | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Austrilia driver's license to be valid to drive in Germany. | You need to be at least 18 years old to drive a rental car in Germany. If you are under age 22, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Portugal | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Portugal. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in the Portugal. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Turkey | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Turkey. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Turkey. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Austria | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Austrilia driver's license to be valid to drive in Austria. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Austria. However, the majority of rental cars require 21 years old to drive. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Switzerland | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Switzerland. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Switzerland. If you are under age 25, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Spain | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Spain. | You need to be at least 18 years old to drive a rental car in Spain. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
France | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in France. | You need to be at least 18 years old to drive a rental car in France. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Greece | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Greece. | You need to be age 19 at least to get a rental car in Greece. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Netherlands | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Netherlands. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in Netherlands. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Mexico | 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Mexico. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Mexico. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Thailand | 1949, 1968 | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in Thailand. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Thailand. If you are under age 21, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Morocoo | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Morocco. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in Morocco. If you are under age 22, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Egypt | 1949 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Egypt. | You need to be age 20 at least to get a rental car in Egypt. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
South Africa | 1949, 1968 | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in South Africa. | You need to be age 20 at least to get a rental car in Egypt. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Tunisia | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Austrilia driver's license to be valid to drive in Tunisia. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in Tunisia. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Argentina | 1949 | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in Argentina. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in Argentina. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Brazil | 1949, 1968 | An Australia driver's license is valid to drive in Brazil, subject to a visting fewer than 180 days. | You need to be age 19 at least to get a rental car in Brazil. If you are under age 20, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Chile | 1949, 1968 | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in Chile. No need to have an IDP. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Chile. If you are under age 21, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Cuba | 1949, 1968 | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in Cuba. No need to prensent an IDP. | (To be updated) |
Columbia | None | An Australia driver's license alone is valid to drive in Colombia, subject to a visiting fewer than 90 days. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in Colombia. If you are under age 25, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
India | 1949 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in India. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in India. If you are under age 20, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Vietnam | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Vietnam. | If you are under age 26, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
South Korea | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in South Korea. | (To be updated) |
Russia | 1949, 1968 | Subject to a visiting fewer than six months, you should get an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Russia. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in Russia. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Saudi Arabia | 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in Saudi Arabia. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in Saudi Arabia. If you are under age 24, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
United Arab Emirates | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's license to be valid to drive in United Arab Emirates. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in UAE. If you are under age 23, young driver fees are likely to be collected. |
Iran | 1949, 1968 | You need an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's licenseto be valid to drive in Iran. | You need to be age 18 at least to get a rental car in Iran. If you are under age 20, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Israel | 1949, 1968 | Your Australia driver's license is valid to use to drive in Israel, provided you have your license for at least five years. | You need to be age 21 at least to get a rental car in Israel. If you are under age 22, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Qatar | 1968 | Subject to fewer than 6 months, you should get an IDP supplemented with your Australia driver's licenseto be valid to drive in Qatar. | (To be updated) |
Malaysia | 1949 | Citizens of Commonwealth countries (both Malaysia and Australia are members of) can use their domestic driver's license without the need to present an IDP. | You need to be at least 18 years old to drive a rental car in Malaysia. If you are under age 25, young driver fees are likely to be collected (subject to rental car groups). |
Although we take great efforts in trying to maintain the information on this page as up-to-date and accurate as possible, however, there are chances you may fail to find information relative to your destination country or territory. In a case like this, feel free to contact us by emailing to service@internatioanldrivinginstitution.com. We will do our best to find out for you by liaising with the pertaining bodies or companies.
How to get an IDP
Once you have confirmed that you are allowed to apply for an IDP, simply submit the materials online.
The online application process is as follows:
-
Fill out the application form with your driver's license information
-
Upload a recent passport size photo of yourself
-
Upload a copy or photo of your Australian driver's license (full and valid)
Please note:
-
You must have a valid Australian driver's license (learner's permit is not allowed)
-
Understand how long you plan to stay in the destination country
After submission and approval of necessary documents, you should be entitled to get your IDP. Depending on the number of demands, processing your application will take from 30 minutes to 2 days. We guarantee you the best price (check the IDP price here).
Why should you get an IDP
Your Australian driver's license alone is accepted and valid to drive in some English-speaking and South American countries. However, there are many locations abroad, where an IDP is required (see the table above).
To some extent, an IDP is a must-have for international travelers, no matter how extensively their domestic driver's licenses are recognized. After all, bringing an IDP is no mistake, but the absence of presenting one could sometimes be a problem. Notably, some car rental companies would still prefer seeing an IDP before giving you the keys.
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