International Driving Permit

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a legal document which endorses your South African driver's licence.

In many countries English is not an official language - the IDP provides translation of your South African driver's licence into several languages as well as the 5 official UN languages. This allows your licence to be read and understood in various countries. It also assists motorists in foreign countries, when you need to rent a car or obtain insurance while abroad. The AA strongly recommends that you obtain an IDP if you intend using a vehicle abroad.

An IDP may be issued at any Travel Experience store. Please download and complete the application form and return it to us with the following documentation.

IDP Application form

  1. Payment of a permit fee - R 249.00 per permit incl. VAT as of the 4th of May 2009.
  2. Two ID or Passport photographs (which can be taken in store at a fee). Photos must be gloss.
  3. Presentation of a valid South African driver's licence (credit card format) or certified copies of the front and back of the licence.
  4. Presentation of a valid South African ID or Passport or certified copies of the identification page in the document.
  5. Certified copies must be dated and may not be older than two months.

Important Points to Consider

In accordance with South African legislation, an International Driving Permit (IDP) can only be issued if the applicant has a valid South African driver's licence (credit card format). The IDP will be issued for a period not exceeding one year (1949 and/or 1926 convention) or three years (1968 convention), and not exceeding the validity period of the South African driver's licence, whichever is earlier.

If the South African driver's licence expires within the next year then the IDP will not be issued for the full period and restrictions on the validity period will apply. As the IDP serves as an endorsement of your South African driver's licence, holders must always carry their valid South African driver's licences as well as the IDP when travelling abroad.

According to the National Road Traffic Act of 1996, a three (3) month grace period is provided if the driver has applied for renewal of his or her SA driver's licence prior to the local licence expiring. This grace period entitles the driver to drive in South Africa only. According to the United Nations Convention Relative to Road Traffic of 1926, 1949 and 1968, signed and agreed to by South Africa, an IDP may not be valid or issued after the expiry date of the corresponding domestic licence. The AA therefore cannot issue an IDP once the driver's licence has expired (including during the three (3) month grace period).

The AA cannot issue an IDP to residents of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland that are in the possession of a valid driver's licence issued in the above mentioned countries. Citizens of Namibia who are in the possession of a valid Namibian driver's licence can contact the AA of SA if they wish to obtain an IDP.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I benefit by carrying an International Driving Permit (IDP)?

The IDP is an official document which is recognised in over 150 countries today. It provides important information from your driver's licence in various different languages, including English. The document serves as a verification of your South African driver's licence, serves as an additional source of identification and helps to break down language barriers when travelling in non-English speaking countries.

Am I required to have an IDP in foreign countries?

Some countries do not recognise your national SA driver's licence, but officially recognise an IDP. There are other countries that honour your valid driver's licence but require a local language translation from either an embassy or consulate. The IDP satisfies both of these requirements. Also keep in mind, where the local government may not require an IDP for legal driving, car rental companies may request that you produce a valid IDP for rental purposes. Furthermore, in most situations when you are involved in an accident in a foreign country they will dispute your driver's licence. The IDP serves as an official document and constitutes proof that the holder possesses a valid driving licence. This has proven to be invaluable in these situations. Obtaining an IDP is highly recommended.

Do I still need to take with my South African driver's licence when I purchased an IDP?

Yes indeed. The IDP must be used in conjunction with your South African driver's licence, and when stopped you need to present both to a law enforcement officer.

I am in South Africa but have a Spanish driver's licence. Can I obtain an IDP?

The IDP must be issued in the same country that issued the driver's licence. The AA of SA cannot issue an IDP to state that you possess a valid driver's licence in Spain as we have no means of confirming this. We can however assist applicants that possess a valid driver's licence from UK, USA, or New Zealand with obtaining an IDP. The AA of SA assists with facilitation of the application and sending of the documents back to the issuing authority in the applicant's country. They will issue and return the IDP to the applicant or the AA of SA, whichever the applicant prefers. Contact your closest Travel Experience store for more information.

I am working in South Africa and have a UK licence. I obtained my IDP from the UK and it is now about to expire, can the AA help me with renewing the IDP?

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is obtainable from where you obtained your original licence.

 CLICK HERE for more information.

I am in Germany and will need to be travelling to Austria very soon. I am also in possession of an expired International Driving Permit.  What am I to do while abroad to renew the IDP?

You would need to re-apply for the International Driving Permit (IDP). We would need you to follow the outlined steps, submit the relevant documentation and pay the fees. Please download and complete the application form and return it to us with the following documentation.

Application form
  1. Payment of a permit fee - R 249.00 per permit incl. VAT as of the 4th of May 2009.
  2. Two ID or Passport photographs (which can be taken in store at a fee). Photos must be gloss.
  3. Presentation of a valid South African driver's licence (credit card format) or certified copies of the front and back of the licence.
  4. Presentation of a valid South African ID or Passport or certified copies of the identification page in the document.
  5. Certified copies must be dated and may not be older than two months.

Please contact us for a quotation on international courier fees. Cost for speedpost mail (counter to counter) within South Africa is R 70.00.

If you would like us to courier your documents please contact Travel Services on +27 (011) 799 1400 and a full cost which would include courier fees will be given to you. (Courier fees may differ depending on where you are).

Banking Details

Bank Name: First National Bank
Account Name: AA Head Office
Account Type: Corporate Account Services JHB
Account Number: 5683 0006 164
Branch Code: 255 005
Reference: Please use your Surname


Mail the form and the documentation to:

AA Travel Services
PO Box 596
Johannesburg
2000

If I obtained an IDP in South Africa can I use it for driving in South Africa?

Unfortunately you cannot. By law the IDP cannot be used in the country in which it was issued. Thus if an IDP is issued in South Africa, you cannot use it for travelling in South Africa and need to produce your valid SA driver's licence when stopped by a law enforcement officer.

Where do I obtain an IDP?

You may obtain an IDP at any AA Autoshop or Travel Experience store.

What do I need to obtain an IDP?

You need a South African ID, two passport- or ID-size photos and a valid South African driver's licence card.

Do the photos have to be black and white or can they be in colour?

We can use black and white photos, however if you do not have photos, we can take photos at a cost of R 35.00 (for four).

I would like to visit the UK twice this year, but my licence expires in a month's time. Can I obtain an IDP valid for one year?

If your South African driver's licence card is due to expire before the expiry date on the permit, then the IDP will only be made valid up to expiry date as it appears on the SA driver's licence card. Should you subsequently obtain a new valid SA driver's licence card, we can then issue a new IDP to replace the existing IDP and make it valid for 1 year from the date that the first IDP was issued.

IDP Validity Document