Planning a trip abroad and thinking of driving yourself around instead of booking cabs everywhere? You're not the only one. And the good news is, your Indian driving licence actually works in quite a few countries.
But here's the part most people don't realise until they're standing at a rental counter abroad — even in a country that "accepts" your Indian licence, the person handing you the car keys often still wants to see an International Driving Permit (IDP). Your Indian DL might be legally valid, but an IDP is what makes that acceptance smooth in practice.
So let's get both sorted — where your licence works, and how to get your IDP without running around RTOs.
Indian DL vs IDP — what's the actual difference
Your Indian driving licence comes from your local RTO and is meant for Indian roads. An IDP doesn't replace it — think of it as a translated, globally recognised version of the same licence, carried alongside your original DL, not instead of it. On its own, an IDP means nothing. Together, the two work almost everywhere.
Where your Indian licence is usually accepted
Rules change from country to country (and sometimes state to state), so treat this as a starting point, not the final word — always check closer to your travel date. That said, these are the countries Indian travellers most commonly drive in using just their Indian DL, typically for anywhere between a few weeks and a year:
USA, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Bhutan, and Fiji.
Even here, a lot of car rental companies ask for an IDP anyway, just as a backup. Carrying one saves you the argument at the counter.
Outside this list — most of the Middle East, several countries in Europe, and a good chunk of Asia and South America — you'll need an IDP no matter what. No IDP usually means no car.
How Upride gets your IDP done
An IDP is officially issued by your RTO against Form 4A, and needs your DL, passport, visa, and flight ticket for verification. Here's how we take that off your plate:
Send us your documents — DL, passport, visa, and ticket copies. Missing something? We'll tell you what to arrange.
A dedicated Upride RTO consultant picks up your case personally.
We file your application with the right RTO, naming the countries and duration of your trip.
We chase the approvals so you don't have to keep checking status.
Your IDP gets printed and handed to you — valid for a year from the date of issue.
📲 Message us on WhatsApp and let's get your IDP moving before your flight gets closer.
The whole thing costs ₹12,499, and that's it — no hidden RTO visits, no chasing forms yourself. 📲 Message us on WhatsApp if you're not sure whether your destination even needs one — just ask us.
Travel plans shouldn't get stuck over paperwork. Upride.in handles the IDP process properly, so you can focus on packing instead.