IDP for Motorcycles and Scooters

An IDP does not grant new driving rights, it reproduces the categories printed on your national licence in a standardised, translated format. If your home licence does not include motorcycle entitlement, your IDP will not show it either, and you will not be legally permitted to ride abroad.

This is the single most important point for riders. Holding a car-only licence with an IDP lets you drive a car, but it does not let you ride a motorbike, even a small one, in a country that requires the correct category.

Two-wheeler entitlements are usually split by engine size and power. Lower categories may cover mopeds and small scooters, while higher categories cover larger and more powerful motorcycles. The exact category letters and limits depend on your home country's licensing system, which the IDP then translates.

Check which category you actually hold and what it permits. A licence that covers a 50cc moped may not cover a 125cc scooter or a full-power motorcycle, and renting above your entitlement can leave you uninsured and breaking local law.

Scooter rental is popular in many holiday destinations, but the rules are stricter than they often appear. Some countries allow small mopeds on a car licence, while others require a dedicated motorcycle category for anything with an engine. Do not assume a scooter is exempt just because it is small or slow.

Rental shops in tourist areas may hand over a scooter without checking your category closely, but that does not make it legal. If you are stopped by police or have an accident, the authorities and your insurer will look at what your licence actually authorises.

When you apply for an IDP, the categories on your national licence are carried across automatically, so the key is to make sure your licence already includes motorcycle entitlement before you travel. If it does not, you would need to gain that entitlement at home first.

With International Drivers, you can obtain a digital IDP quickly online once your licence shows the right categories. Always carry both your national licence and your IDP when riding, as the IDP is only valid together with the licence it translates.