How to Get an International Driver’s License in NJ

To get an International Driver’s License in NJ, apply through AAA or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA), the only two organizations the U.S. Department of State authorizes to issue the document.¹ The permit fee is $20, and you can apply in person at a AAA branch, online, or by mail with a completed application, two passport-style photos, and a photocopy of your valid New Jersey driver’s license.

What You’re Actually Getting

The correct name is International Driving Permit, or IDP. Anything sold as an “international driver’s license” is either sloppy shorthand or a scam. The IDP is a booklet that translates your name, photo, and driver information into ten languages so foreign police and rental agencies can read your credentials.²

It has no legal value on its own. You carry it alongside your physical New Jersey license, and it only works as long as that license is valid. It is not a substitute if your NJ license is suspended, revoked, or expired.

Who Qualifies

Two requirements. You must be at least 18 years old, and you must hold a valid New Jersey driver’s license that isn’t suspended, revoked, or expired.³ Citizenship doesn’t matter; permanent residents and visa holders with a valid NJ license can apply.

One boundary worth noting: the U.S. does not issue IDPs to foreign visitors driving on a non-U.S. license. If you hold a license from another country, you need to get your IDP from that country before arriving in the United States.⁴

What to Gather Before You Apply

The same materials apply regardless of method:

The completed application form, downloadable from AAA’s site or available at a branch.³
Two passport-style photos, 2×2 inches, identical, signed on the back. AAA branches can take these for you.⁵
A photocopy of both sides of your New Jersey driver’s license.⁶
The $20 permit fee, plus any method-specific charges.²

If your NJ license is close to expiring, renew it before applying. The IDP’s validity is tied to your license and will expire the same day your license does, regardless of what the IDP booklet says.

Three Ways to Apply Through AAA

In Person at a Branch

This is the fastest option. Bring your completed application, two signed photos, your valid NJ license, and $20. Many branches print the IDP while you wait. Not every AAA location offers IDP services, so call ahead or use AAA’s office locator filtered for IDP availability.² If you need passport photos taken on-site, the branch can handle that for an additional fee.

Online

AAA’s online application walks you through a short form. You enter your information, take a digital passport photo with your smartphone, and capture images of the front and back of your license. The cost is $20 for the permit plus a $10 digital photo fee plus shipping. Allow five business days for processing before the IDP ships.⁷ There’s no digital IDP; every permit is physically printed and mailed.

By Mail

Send your completed application, two original signed photos, a photocopy of both sides of your NJ license, and a check or money order for $20 to the AAA address on the application form. Standard return-mail processing runs five to seven weeks, so this method is only realistic if you’re planning well ahead.² You can include extra funds for expedited return shipping via USPS or FedEx.

A Note on AATA

AATA is the other authorized issuer, but it operates on a limited schedule, accepting applications only Friday through Tuesday, 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time.⁸ Most New Jersey applicants will find AAA more convenient. AATA charges the same $20 permit fee plus a $7 photo processing fee and shipping.⁹

Total Cost

The base permit fee is $20 no matter which method or organization you use. Extras vary:

AAA in person: $20, plus sales tax where applicable. Photos cost extra if the branch takes them.
AAA online: $20 plus $10 digital photo fee plus shipping.²
AAA by mail: $20, plus any optional expedited return shipping.
AATA: $20 plus $7 photo image processing fee plus shipping.⁹

Applying in person at AAA with your own photos is the cheapest route. Most applicants spend between $20 and $35 all told.

How Long It Lasts

An IDP is valid for one year from its effective date, or until your New Jersey license expires, whichever comes first.¹⁰ If your license expires in six months, so does your IDP, even though the booklet is marked for a year.

There is no renewal. When it expires, you apply again from scratch with fresh photos and another $20.

Where the IDP Is Needed

AAA describes the IDP as accepted in over 150 countries, including major destinations like Japan, Italy, France, Australia, India, and South Korea.¹¹ Canada and Mexico accept your U.S. driver’s license directly, so you don’t need one for those trips.¹

Beyond that, requirements vary. Some countries require an IDP by law, others recommend one, and a few won’t accept one at all and expect you to obtain a local license. Check the U.S. State Department’s country information page for your destination before booking a rental car.

What Happens If You Drive Without One

In countries that require an IDP, driving without one means driving without what local law considers a valid license. Penalties depend on the country. The U.S. Embassy in Japan, for example, warns that driving without a legal license can result in fines, arrest, and possible deportation, and may also void your insurance coverage.¹² Some rental agencies abroad will refuse to release the car or tack on surcharges when a customer can’t produce an IDP. A denied insurance claim after an accident is the scenario where a $20 permit pays for itself many times over.

Avoiding IDP Scams

The FTC has warned repeatedly about websites selling fake “international driver’s licenses” for anywhere between $65 and $375.¹³ These sites target people who don’t know that only AAA and AATA are authorized issuers in the United States.

Warning signs:

The seller isn’t AAA or AATA. No other company is authorized by the State Department.¹
The price is significantly more than $20.
The seller claims the document replaces a driver’s license, or can substitute for a suspended or revoked license. A real IDP does neither.¹⁴
The document is called an “international driver’s license.” That phrase is common shorthand but not the name of any real document. The genuine one is the International Driving Permit.

Presenting a fraudulent IDP to a foreign officer creates worse problems than not carrying one at all. Stick with AAA or AATA.

1
USAGov. International Driver’s License for U.S. Citizens
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AAA. AAA International Driving Permit
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AAA. International Driving Permit Application
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USAGov. Driving in the U.S. if You Are Not a Citizen
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AAA. AAA International Driving Permit Application
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AAA South Jersey. International Driving Permits
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AAA. International Driving Permits – Step 1
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American Automobile Touring Alliance. Application Form
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American Automobile Touring Alliance. FAQs
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AAA. International Driving Permit – Section: Important Things to Know
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AAA Mountain West Group. International Driving Permit
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U.S. Embassy Japan. Driving in Japan
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Federal Trade Commission. Planning to Drive in Another Country? Here’s How to Avoid International Driver’s Permit Scams
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Federal Trade Commission. FTC Targets Sellers Who Deceptively Marketed International Driver’s Permits over the Internet and via Spam