Lost or Stolen IDP: What to Do

Stay calm and confirm what you actually still hold. An IDP never travels alone, your national driving licence is the document that grants your right to drive, and the IDP only translates it into multiple languages. If your national licence is also missing, that is the more urgent problem and you should report it to the police and contact your home licensing authority.

If only the IDP is gone, report a theft to the local police so you have a record, especially if it was stolen alongside other documents. A police report can help with insurance claims and gives you proof of the circumstances if you are stopped while arranging a replacement.

The fastest route is to order a new IDP online. With International Drivers, you upload a photo of your valid national licence and a passport-style photo, complete the form, and receive a digital IDP you can download and print, typically within minutes. This is far quicker than waiting for a physical booklet to be reissued and posted to you abroad.

Keep the original details consistent with your previous permit, the same name, licence number and vehicle categories, so there are no mismatches when you present it. Once issued, save the digital file in more than one place, such as your email and your phone, and print at least one paper copy to carry.

In countries that legally require an IDP, driving without one, even temporarily, can leave you uninsured and exposed to fines. If you cannot get a replacement immediately, avoid driving until the new permit is in hand. Because digital issuance is usually fast, the gap is normally short.

If a rental company is holding your car or asking for the IDP, explain that a replacement is in progress and show them your valid national licence. Many will wait for the digital copy to arrive, but policies vary, so confirm with the branch before assuming you can keep the vehicle.

Treat your IDP like a backup, not a single point of failure. Store a digital version on your phone and in cloud storage so a stolen wallet never strips you of access. Carrying both a printed copy and a digital copy means losing one rarely stops you driving.

Keep your national licence and IDP in separate places when practical, so a single theft does not take both. A quick photo of each document, stored securely, also makes any future replacement far smoother.