Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in Europe?
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Usually not if you hold a UK photocard licence and are visiting the EU, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein. GOV.UK says an International Driving Permit, or IDP, is not needed for those visits, but some people with a paper licence or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man may need one in some countries.
Check the licence you actually hold
Carry your physical UK driving licence. An IDP is a supporting permit, not a replacement for the licence, so getting one does not remove the need to take your licence.
Do not assume one answer covers every document described as a “UK licence”. The exception noted by GOV.UK is why it matters whether yours is a Great Britain or Northern Ireland photocard, an older paper licence, or a licence issued by a Crown Dependency or Gibraltar.
Check every country on the route
The answer is based on where you will drive, not only where the ferry or train arrives. A route to a non-EU country may have a different rule even when most of the journey is in the EU. Use the GOV.UK country checker for every country you enter, including a transit country.
Ireland has a specific simple position: GOV.UK says a visitor with a UK driving licence does not need an IDP there.
Leave time before departure
If the official checker says you need an IDP, follow its current application instructions rather than buying a document from an unofficial website. Check early enough to deal with the correct permit type and any in-person requirement.
Keep the IDP with your driving licence and other vehicle papers. The travel glossary explains the term, while the full licence guide covers route-by-route checks.
Sources
- licences and international driving permits (checked )