Does AATA serve foreign license holders?
AATA says it does not issue IDPs for foreign driver licenses.
AATA entity guide · Last verified 2026-07-23
What Is AATA?
A sourced explanation of AATA, its U.S. IDP role, eligibility statements and application limits.
Direct Answer
AATA, the American Automobile Touring Alliance, is identified by official U.S. sources as one of two organizations authorized to issue U.S. International Driving Permits.
Sourced guidance
Issuer role
USAGov names AATA alongside AAA as an authorized U.S. IDP issuer.
Sourced guidance
Eligibility
AATA's FAQ says applicants must be 18 or older and hold a valid U.S. driver's license; it says AATA does not issue IDPs for foreign driver licenses.
Sourced guidance
Digital limitation
AATA's FAQ states that there is no digital version of an IDP and that IDPs are physical documents.
FAQ
Common questions
Does AATA offer a digital IDP?
AATA says there is no digital version of an IDP.
Sources
Official evidence used
- USAGov - International driver's license for U.S. citizens
- AATA - Steps for Getting Your IDP
- AATA - IDP FAQ
- AATA - IDP Application
Last verified: 2026-07-23. Unavailable facts are not estimated.
Next step
Check destination requirements before applying
Use the country registry first, then apply only if a private translation-support document fits your situation.
Information gain
AAA and AATA compared on the points that actually differ
Most pages that mention AATA simply note that it exists. The useful question is where the two authorised issuers actually diverge, because that is what determines which one you should use.
| Authorised by the U.S. Department of State | Yes — both. Neither is more official than the other. |
|---|---|
| Physical branch network | AAA operates branches offering same-day service. AATA works by post and online. |
| Membership required | Neither requires membership to issue an IDP. |
| Who it suits | AAA if you can reach a branch and need it quickly. AATA if you are applying by post anyway and want a second option. |
| Current fee | Not confirmed for AATA. AAA's official page lists USD 20. |
We do not publish another organisation's current fee from memory. Where a figure is not confirmed against a live official page, this table says so.
Why this matters
Why two issuers exist at all
The two-issuer arrangement is a consequence of how the 1949 Geneva Convention works. A contracting state authorises bodies within its territory to issue permits on its behalf. The United States authorised two, which is why an IDP obtained through either carries the same standing. It also means a third organisation cannot become authorised simply by saying so.
That is the practical test to carry into any search result: authorisation comes from the state, not from a domain name. A website using the letters "AAA" or "AATA" is not thereby connected to either. See how to check you are on an official issuer's site.
WorldIDP is an independent private service operated by WORLDIDP INTERNATIONAL LLC. It prepares a multilingual translation-support document for a valid national driving licence. It is not a government agency, it is not authorised to issue United States International Driving Permits, and the document it prepares is carried alongside the original licence rather than in place of it.
More questions
Questions travellers actually ask
Is AATA less official than AAA?
No. Both are authorised by the U.S. Department of State to issue United States International Driving Permits. Neither carries more standing than the other.
Can AATA issue a permit to a non-US licence holder?
No. Like AAA, AATA issues U.S. IDPs to holders of a valid U.S. state licence. If your licence was issued elsewhere, the authorised issuer is in that country.
Does a domain containing 'AATA' mean the site is AATA?
No. Anyone can register a domain name. Authorisation comes from the state, not from a web address.