Can You Get an International Driving Permit the Same Day in the US?
Yes, but through one route only. A participating AAA branch can issue a US International Driving Permit in person the same day, typically in well under an hour once your paperwork is complete. Every other route — AAA online, AATA by post — takes days. No digital-only same-day US IDP exists; AAA states digital IDPs are not available. Sources reviewed 23 July 2026.
What each route actually delivers
Three different things get described as fast, and only one of them puts a conventional US International Driving Permit in your hand today.
| Route | Same day? | What you actually get |
|---|---|---|
| AAA branch, in person | Yes | A conventional US IDP, issued while you wait, at participating branches only. |
| AAA online | No | A conventional US IDP after about five business days of processing per AAA's published guidance, then shipping. |
| AATA by post | No | A conventional US IDP. AATA is the second authorised issuer; its current turnaround is not confirmed here. |
| A site selling an "instant digital IDP" | No | Not a conventional US IDP. AAA states digital IDPs are not available. |
| WorldIDP | No | A private multilingual translation-support document. Not a US IDP and not a substitute for one. |
We do not state another organisation's current turnaround from memory. Where a figure is not confirmed against a live official page, this table says so.
How the same-day branch route works
- Call the specific branch first. Not every AAA location issues International Driving Permits, and a branch can issue them without offering same-day service. Those are two separate questions — ask both.
- Bring your valid US state driving licence. The physical card, not a photograph of it. The permit translates that licence and has no standing without it.
- Bring two passport-style photographs, signed on the reverse. This is the single most common reason a same-day visit fails. Some branches can take them for you at additional cost; not all can.
- Complete the application form. Filling it in before you arrive saves time at the counter.
- Pay the USD 20 permit fee. That is AAA's published permit fee. Photographs and any additional services are separate.
- Collect the booklet. Once the paperwork is complete, issuance is a matter of minutes. Arriving well before closing matters more than anything else.
You must be at least 18 and hold a valid US state-issued licence. AAA membership is not required. Our full US application guide covers both authorised routes.
If you are travelling within 48 hours
- Check whether you need one at all. This resolves a large share of urgent cases and costs nothing. Several popular destinations operate a visitor rule rather than a permit requirement — the UK allows 12 months on a foreign licence, Ireland the same, and Iceland accepts a Latin-script licence as it stands. Our country registry gives the sourced position per destination.
- Check which convention your destination recognises. Japan recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention only. A permit issued under the wrong convention is not a substitute, and no amount of speed fixes that.
- If you do need one and hold a US licence, call a participating AAA branch today.
- If no branch is reachable, understand precisely what remains. A private translation-support document is not a conventional IDP, and we are not going to tell you it is. Where the practical problem is a rental desk unable to read a licence in an unfamiliar script, it addresses that specific problem and nothing more.
What WorldIDP is, on this page as everywhere else
WorldIDP is an independent private service operated by WORLDIDP INTERNATIONAL LLC that prepares a multilingual translation-support document for a valid national driving licence. It is not a government agency and is not authorised to issue International Driving Permits. The document is carried alongside the original national driving licence and does not replace it.
If a conventional US International Driving Permit is what you need today, AAA is the answer and we would rather say so than sell you something that does not fit. See the full comparison, including how to check you are on an official issuer's website.
Same-day IDP questions
Can you get a AAA International Driving Permit the same day?
Yes, at a participating AAA branch in person. Not every branch issues permits, so call the specific branch first and confirm both that it issues IDPs and that it can do so while you wait.
What do I need to bring to get an IDP the same day?
Your valid US state driving licence, two passport-style photographs signed on the reverse, a completed application form, and payment of the USD 20 permit fee. Arriving without the photographs is the most common reason a same-day visit fails.
How long does it take in the branch?
Once your documents are complete, issuance is generally a matter of minutes rather than days. Queue length rather than processing is usually what determines how long you are there.
Can I get a same-day IDP online?
No. AAA's published online processing window is about five business days before anything ships. Paying for expedited shipping speeds delivery, not processing.
Is there an instant digital US IDP?
No. AAA states that digital IDPs are not available. A website offering an instant digital 'US IDP' is not describing the document AAA issues.
Does WorldIDP offer a same-day US IDP?
No, and we will not suggest otherwise. WorldIDP prepares a private multilingual translation-support document. It is not a US International Driving Permit and it is not a substitute for one. If you need a conventional US IDP today, a AAA branch is the route.
What if no AAA branch near me issues IDPs?
First check whether your destination requires one at all — several do not. Our country registry states the position per destination with the official sources used and the date we checked them.
Can a foreign licence holder get a same-day IDP in the US?
No. An IDP must be issued in the country that issued your licence, so AAA cannot issue one to a visitor holding a foreign licence regardless of urgency.
Sources used on this page
- USAGov — International Driving Permit
- American Automobile Association — International Driving Permit
- U.S. Department of State — Driving and road safety abroad
Sources last reviewed: . Figures we could not confirm against a live official page are marked as unconfirmed rather than estimated. Our editorial policy sets out the standard.