Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
An international driving permit (IDP), sometimes called an international driving license, is a translation document that restates your domestic driver's license details across several languages, so officials and rental staff abroad can verify them more easily.
No. It's a companion translation document meant to be carried alongside your valid domestic driver's license, not a replacement for it.
Digital copies are typically available the same day an application is approved, with physical cards following by mail afterward.
Recognition and requirements vary by country and can change over time. It's worth checking current rules for your specific destination before you travel.
In some places, a domestic license alone may be accepted, especially where it's already in a widely understood language. In many other countries, rental agencies and authorities expect to see a translation document alongside it. Requirements differ by destination, so check ahead.
Validity periods vary by issuer and package. Check your specific document's issue and expiration dates, and renew ahead of any trip that falls outside that window.
In everyday use, the two terms describe the same kind of document. "Permit" is the more formal, treaty-based term; "license" is the phrase most people search for and use in conversation.