Already abroad and need an International Driving Permit? We’ve got you covered!

Preparing for an international trip can be complicated. Not only do we have a long list of things that we know we need to pack, but there are often things we don’t realize we need until we’re already abroad. Forgetting to obtain or pack an International Driving Permit (IDP) is incredibly common, and not having one when you need it can cause serious disruptions in an otherwise meticulously planned itinerary.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, don’t panic. We’re here to help!

As a reminder, an IDP is an official translation of your domestic driver’s license which exists to standardize license information for authorities and rental companies abroad. International driving permits are not licenses themselves and must be used in conjunction with your valid US driver’s license.

Can you get an International Driving Permit while abroad? How long will it take?

Yes, you can still get an International Driving Permit even if you’re outside of the US. We specialize in expediting IDPs for US license holders, and we can ship to virtually anywhere in the world in 2-5 days. Shipping to most major international cities (e.g., Tokyo, Barcelona, Rome) will generally take about 48 hours to arrive from the time an order is placed. If you need it even faster, contact us and we can find a solution together.

You can also find more information on our shipping options and pricing here.

Where can I get one delivered? What if I’m moving around a lot?

If you’re unsure of what to use for a shipping address, contact us and we will happily work through some options with you.

The best option is always to ship your package to a FedEx or DHL facility (or a 3rd-party partner location) where you can pick it up during business hours. This is a flexible and secure option that greatly reduces the likelihood of delays due to incorrect addresses, misdeliveries, and package theft. Shipping to these facilities carries no additional cost, and generally they will hold packages for up to 7-10 days.

Another option is to ship to a hotel. This works great if the hotel has a reception desk that’s staffed from early in the morning until late in the evening because hotel staff can receive your package on your behalf and hold it until you’re available to pick it up. We always recommend checking with your hotel first and ensuring that the name on the shipment matches the name on the hotel reservation.

In some countries, we can ship to package lockers and local post offices. This is not a widely available option, but we’d be happy to research it for you if the other options aren’t workable.

One option that we don’t recommend is shipping to AirBnbs and unstaffed micro-hotels. With these locations, delivery drivers often struggle to figure out where to leave packages, and in some cases, the addresses don’t receive mail at all. Unless you receive permission and instructions from your host, we suggest finding an alternative shipping option or you’ll risk significant shipping delays.

Please get in touch with us if you’d like help figuring out the best option for you.

Tips for seamless delivery

• Double check the address you give us, especially postal codes and apartment numbers.

• Contact your host or hotel front desk to make sure they can accept packages.

• Give your host or hotel a heads up that you are expecting a package (large envelope).

• Use the same name on your shipping address as what’s on your hotel reservation.

• Bring valid ID to pick up your package from a FedEx or DHL facility.

• If sending to an office / commercial space, confirm the business address can accept mail and ask for shipping instructions.

Quick note about scams

We often hear from customers who made the mistake of buying a fake IDP from a scam website. Before buying anything, we recommend giving our blog about how to spot scams a quick read. PriorityIDP will always obtain your IDP directly from AAA, an authorized issuer of IDPs for US license holders.

In conclusion, don’t panic if you forgot to get an IDP before leaving home and are already overseas. We are experts at getting IDPs to farflung places in record times!