The IDP cannot be renewed. Not at AAA, not at a US embassy, not anywhere. When it expires you reapply from scratch — and you can only do it from inside the United States.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
Every US-issued International Driving Permit is valid for one year from the date of issue. That date is printed on the cover of the booklet. Once that day passes, the document is expired and there is no renewal mechanism. AAA and AATA — the only two authorized issuers in the United States — both treat a new IDP application identically whether you've held one before or not.
Practically, that means a fresh application form, two new passport-style photos signed on the back, a photocopy of your current state license, and the $20 fee, every time. There is no shortened version of the process for repeat applicants.
When travelers search for "IDP renewal," they almost always mean one of two things, and both have the same answer: you have to reapply.
This is the worst-case scenario, and it happens because so many travelers only check the expiration date when they actually need the document. There is no fix that doesn't involve the United States.
US embassies and consulates do not issue or renew IDPs. They are issued exclusively in the country of your home license, by treaty. If you find yourself abroad with an expired IDP and a long trip still ahead, you have three realistic options:
None of these are good outcomes, which is why the entire point of a reminder is to make sure you never face this choice. Set one for a month before your IDP expires and another for six weeks before any international trip.
Identical to a first-time application. Gather these before you start:
For the full breakdown of where to apply, the differences between AAA and AATA, and the photo specifications, see the guide on how to get an International Driving Permit.
The IDP has the dumbest possible failure mode: a one-year expiration on a document people only use occasionally, with no native renewal mechanism, and no agency tracking the date for you. The fix is just as simple. Pick a date one month before yours expires. Have an email show up on that day. Reapply at your own pace, on dry land, with time to spare.
See the main International Driving Permit reminder page for how the timing actually works on BoldRemind.
No. The IDP cannot be renewed. Once it expires, you must apply for a brand new one with a fresh application, two new passport-style photos, a photocopy of your current US driver's license, and the $20 fee.
You cannot apply for a new IDP from outside the United States. By treaty, the IDP must be issued in the same country that issued your underlying license. If your IDP expires mid-trip, your options are to mail the application back to the US through a family member, switch to taxis and trains, or risk driving on just your state license depending on the country.
No. The 1949 Geneva Convention is explicit: an IDP can only be issued by the country of your underlying driver's license. A US-licensed driver can only get a US-issued IDP, and only from AAA or AATA inside the United States.
Reapply at least four to six weeks before your next international trip. AAA quotes 10 to 15 business days for mailed applications, and you want a buffer for photo retakes or postal delays.
No. An expired IDP is not a valid identification document and will be rejected by rental agencies and traffic police. There is no grace period. Once the date on the cover passes, the booklet is no different from a piece of scrap paper.
Not from AAA or any government agency. Unlike a passport or driver's license, no one tracks your IDP expiration for you. You have to set the reminder yourself, which is why so many travelers only find out at the rental counter.
One email a month before your IDP expires. Free, no account. You'll have time to reapply by mail without paying for expedited anything.
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