how to get international driving license in usa

The license just needs to be in the same alphabet that Costa Rica uses ( e.g., A, B, C, D).įor example, those traveling from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, etc. Most tourists can use their home country’s license, even if it is in a different language.

Important: Do You Need One to Drive in Costa Rica?Īn international driving permit is not typically required for visitors traveling to Costa Rica. It is important to mention that the international driving permit must be presented along with the original driver’s license to be valid. These permits are considered a valid form of identification in more than 150 countries. International driving permits are regulated by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA/IAT) under direction of the United Nations (UN) and Organization of American States. The permit also certifies that you have a valid driver’s license in your country of residence ( i.e., you can legally drive). This makes it easier for law enforcement to read your license in the country you are visiting. What is an International Driving License/Permit?Īn international driving permit is a document that translates your current driver’s license into 12 different languages. The rental car agency in the United States that we were using told us that we could only use our Costa Rica license if we also had an international driving permit to go along with it. We needed to use our Costa Rica license, until we could get the US one renewed. Our driver’s licenses in the United States had expired, so we needed a way to rent a car in the States (to visit family). Though originally from the United States, we have permanent residency in Costa Rica and hold Costa Rica driver’s licenses. We recently had to apply for an international driving permit in Costa Rica. In this post, we’ll let you know what an international driving permit is and give details about how to apply for this special document. Likewise, people who normally use a Costa Rica driver’s license may find one necessary when traveling to other countries.

But visitors from some countries will need an international driving permit.

Most tourists traveling to Costa Rica can use their license from their home country to drive.

How to get international driving license in usa