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Car Insurance With an International Driver's License in the US: What the Permit Does, What States Allow, and How to Get Covered

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You can usually drive in the US on a valid license from your home country for a while, and some insurers will write a policy on it. An International Driving Permit (IDP) does not replace that license. It is a translation you carry next to it. How long you can drive this way depends on the state, and the clock changes the day you become a resident. This guide is part of our car insurance by driver profile series.

Key takeaways

  • An IDP is an official translation of your home license, not a license by itself, according to the FTC. USAGov says you may need it as well as your home license, and that you must get it in your home country before you travel.
  • Visitors can drive on a valid foreign license in New York and Florida, and in California from age 18 (drivers 16 or 17 for up to 10 days). Texas limits that privilege to licenses from countries covered by certain international agreements. Once you become a resident, the deadline to get a state license is 10 days in California, 30 days in New York and Florida, and 90 days in Texas.
  • Insurers differ. State Farm says some companies do not insure foreign drivers until they have a US license, and Liberty Mutual says foreign driving history generally does not transfer, so you are often rated as a new driver.
  • If you do not own a car, rental company liability and non-owner policies are the main options.

What is an International Driving Permit, and what is it not?

The Federal Trade Commission describes an IDP as "an official document created by international treaties that translates a domestic driver's license into several foreign languages." Each country designates who may issue them, and the FTC says a permit from that designated body "is the only official translation" of a person's license. In a separate consumer alert about permits issued in the US to US license holders, the FTC says such an IDP carries your name, photo and license details translated into ten languages, and that you carry it along with your license.

What it is not:

Watch for fakes. In 2012, FTC staff sent warning letters to online marketers selling substitutes for IDPs, and the agency says no document issued by any other organization, individual or company meets the treaty requirements. For Americans going abroad, the FTC says AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance are the "only two active organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs." For visitors to the US, the issuer is the designated body in your home country.

How long can you drive in the US on a foreign license?

There is no single national rule. Each state sets its own, and most draw a line between visitors and residents. Here is what four large states say on their official pages.

StateVisitors with a foreign licenseDeadline after you become a residentNotes from the state
CaliforniaVisitors over 18 with a valid license from their home state or country may drive without a California license while it stays valid10 daysDrivers 16 or 17 with a foreign license may drive for a maximum of 10 days without extra DMV steps
New YorkYou can drive with a valid license from another country30 daysAn IDP is not required but "is helpful"
FloridaMust carry a valid license issued in your name from your country of residence30 daysResidency is triggered by things like accepting a job or enrolling children in public school
TexasOnly licenses from countries covered by the 1943 Inter-American Convention, the NATO agreement, the 1949 Geneva Convention or a State Department list; ages 18 to 75, for up to one year from entry into the US or until you become a resident, whichever is sooner90 daysDPS says foreign licenses not in English or Spanish must be translated before arriving

States verified on official DMV and DPS pages, accessed October 19, 2026.

The resident deadline starts when you become a resident, and states define that differently. Florida's FLHSMV says you are a resident if you enroll your children in public school, register to vote, file for a homestead exemption, accept employment, or live in Florida for more than six consecutive months. California's DMV says residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner's property tax exemption, or receiving another benefit not ordinarily given to nonresidents. In Florida, accepting a job there is enough to make you a resident.

New York explains why the IDP helps even where it is optional: the permit "verifies in several languages that you have a valid driver license," so police who cannot read your license can read the permit.

Texas is narrower than the other three. DPS says the foreign-license privilege applies only to licenses from countries covered by the 1943 Inter-American Convention, the NATO agreement, the 1949 Geneva Convention or a list set by the State Department. It is limited to drivers ages 18 to 75, for up to one year from the date of entry into the US, and to private vehicles. Check the DPS page for your country before you rely on it. Rules vary and change, so confirm with the DMV in your state before you drive.

Can you buy car insurance without a US license?

Sometimes, depending on the insurer and your situation. Carriers differ on this, so ask each one whether it will write a policy on your license.

State Farm says getting a policy on an international license "may be possible for the short term," but "there may be cases where some insurance companies don't offer insurance to foreign drivers until they have a U.S. driver's license." Liberty Mutual says you may be able to get coverage using your current license "if it's valid and not expired," and that this can vary by where you are licensed, how long you are staying and the state you are driving in.

Two things to expect when you quote:

Whatever license you hold, you still need at least your state's minimum coverage. Liberty Mutual says requirements for non-citizens are the same as for US citizens. See car insurance minimums by state for what your state requires.

The NAIC says that "in most states it is legal for insurers to use credit-based insurance scores" in pricing a policy, which can matter when you have no US credit file yet. See car insurance and credit by state.

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What if you do not own a car here?

You have two main routes.

Rental cars. The Insurance Information Institute says rental companies must, by law, provide the state required minimum amount of liability insurance, and that "often this does not provide enough protection." The loss damage waiver offered at the counter is "not technically an insurance product"; it waives your responsibility if the rental is damaged or stolen, and Triple-I notes it may be void if the damage came from speeding or driving while intoxicated. USAGov adds that you may need both your license and an IDP to rent, so check the rental company's rules before you book.

Non-owner insurance. Triple-I says non-owners who rent often can buy a non-owner liability policy for extra liability protection. Whether an insurer will sell one on a foreign license is the same question as above: ask. Our non-owner car insurance guide explains what these policies cover and leave out.

How do you get a state driver's license?

If you are staying, a state license fixes most of the problems above. USAGov says a state license lets you drive anywhere in the US, and that residency requirements differ by state.

Once you have a state license, get new quotes. State Farm notes that some insurers wait for a US license before they will offer coverage, so your options can widen once you have one. If you are also moving between US states later, see moving states and car insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Is an international driver's license the same as an International Driving Permit?

People use the terms interchangeably, but the official document is the International Driving Permit. The FTC says it is a treaty-based translation of your home license, and it only works alongside that license.

Can I get an IDP after I arrive in the US?

Not from a US agency. USAGov says the US does not issue IDPs to foreign visitors. You must get one from the motor vehicle authority of the country that issued your license, before you travel.

How long is an IDP valid in the US?

USAGov says IDPs issued for use in the US are valid for one year. Your right to drive on it still ends earlier if you become a resident and your state's deadline passes.

Will my driving record from my home country lower my rate?

Do not count on it. Liberty Mutual says foreign driving history generally does not transfer. Ask each insurer whether it will consider a record from your home country.

Do I need insurance if I am only visiting?

If you drive, yes. Liberty Mutual says visitors with a valid foreign license are generally required to have some type of auto insurance. A rental company's liability coverage may meet the state minimum for that car.

Sources

Licensing deadlines and insurer requirements are set by each state and company and can change. Every rule above is taken from the source cited, as accessed October 19, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.