An International Driving Permit isn't a one-time purchase you file away forever. Like a passport stamp, it has a shelf life — and letting it quietly expire mid-trip is one of the most common ways travellers end up stuck at a rental counter.
How long does an IDP actually last?
Under the international conventions that govern the document, an IDP is typically valid for up to one year from its issue date — never longer than your underlying national licence. If your national licence expires in six months, your IDP is only valid for those six months too, whichever comes first. Short-trip travellers often choose a shorter-validity option instead: GetIDPermit's Flash plan, for example, covers 15 days, which is enough for a single holiday to Greece, Italy or Croatia without paying for a full year of coverage you won't use.
Why validity dates catch people out
Multi-country trips. A six-month itinerary through Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia (Bali) can outlast a short-validity IDP purchased for the first leg only.
Repeat travellers. If you rented a car in Japan last year and you're heading back, your old IDP is almost certainly expired — permits don't roll over between trips.
Licence renewal mismatches. If your national licence was renewed after your IDP was issued, the two documents can fall out of sync, and rental staff will flag the mismatch.
Renewing is simpler than people expect
There's no cooling-off period and no need to wait for the old permit to fully lapse. As long as your national driving licence is still valid, you can apply for a fresh IDP at any point — before a trip, mid-trip, or the moment you notice the expiry date is close. The process is identical to a first-time application: choose a plan, confirm your licence details, upload a photo, and pay securely. Because everything is issued digitally, a renewal arrives by email in minutes rather than the days a physical replacement would take.
Planning around expiry dates for common destinations
Some of the strictest checks happen in places where an IDP is effectively mandatory for rentals: the UAE, South Africa, Mauritius and Israel among them. Before a long trip, work backwards from your return date and make sure the permit's validity window covers the entire itinerary, not just the arrival date. For open-ended travel or a season of consecutive bookings, the standard one-year plans are the safer choice over the 15-day Flash option.
Don't let a lapsed permit be the reason you get turned away
An expired IDP is worth exactly as much as no IDP at all — rental desks and police checkpoints treat them identically. The fix takes less time than checking in for a flight: pick the plan length that matches your trip, and receive a fresh digital IDP by email before the old one runs out. Check plans and validity options → or browse the full destinations list to check what's expected where you're headed.
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How long is an International Driving Permit valid for?
Most IDPs are valid for one year from the date of issue, regardless of how long your national licence has left to run. GetIDPermit's Flash plan covers 15 days for short trips, while the standard plans cover a full year.
Can I renew my IDP before it expires?
Yes. There's no waiting period — you can apply for a new IDP as soon as your current one is close to expiring or has run out, as long as your underlying national licence is still valid.
What happens if my IDP expires while I'm still abroad?
An expired IDP is treated the same as having none at all — rental desks and police won't accept it. If your trip runs long, apply for a new one online before the old one lapses; delivery typically takes minutes by email.