Country guide — International Driving Permit
Palestinian International Driving Permit in the USA
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Short answer
The USA is on our guidance list, but driving rules for visitors are set by each state. Carry the IDP with your valid Palestinian licence and passport, and check the rules of the state you’ll drive in and the rental company’s terms before you travel.
The legal basis: international road-traffic conventions
The United States has been a party to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic since 1950, but not to the 1968 Vienna Convention, which Palestine joined in 2019. In practice, acceptance depends on each state’s law and on rental companies.
Rules differ from state to state
In the US, driver licensing is a state matter, not a federal one. Check the DMV website of the state you’ll drive in: whether it accepts foreign licences for visitors, for how long, and whether it asks for an IDP.
Renting a car in the USA
Car-rental companies may ask for the IDP together with your Palestinian licence, passport and a credit card — terms differ by company. Ask the company about its conditions and insurance cover before you book.
Carry both licences together: your valid Palestinian driving licence and the International Driving Permit, plus your passport. The IDP is an official translation of your licence, not a licence on its own.
Student or resident?
The IDP is for travel and visits. If you will study or live in the US, each state decides when you need a local licence — check with the state DMV early.
How long can you drive in the USA as a visitor?
How long a visitor may drive on a foreign licence depends on the length of stay and the type of visa. Check with the country’s embassy or official traffic authority before you travel — don’t rely on unofficial websites.
Get your IDP in Palestine
The IDP is issued by the Palestinian Motor Sports and Motorcycles Federation, and Tasheel is its accredited agent. It costs 150 ILS, is ready in about one working day once your documents are complete, and is valid for one year from issue. Full details in our step-by-step IDP guide.
- Clear copy of your passport bio page (valid)
- Valid Palestinian driving licence — front (back recommended)
- Recent personal photo on a white background
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in the USA with a Palestinian licence?
It depends on the state. Carry your Palestinian licence with the IDP, and check the state DMV website and the rental company’s terms.
Is the IDP a substitute for a US licence?
No. The IDP is a translation of your Palestinian licence for visits; it doesn’t replace a state licence for residents.
How long can a visitor drive in the USA?
How long a visitor may drive on a foreign licence depends on the length of stay and the type of visa. Check with the country’s embassy or official traffic authority before you travel — don’t rely on unofficial websites.
Is the IDP enough on its own to drive in the USA?
No. The IDP is always carried with your valid Palestinian driving licence; it is never used on its own.
Request your IDP now
150 ILS · ready in about one working day · valid one year. A real team answers on WhatsApp.
Sources
- UN Treaty Collection — Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva 1949 (status)
- UN Treaty Collection — Convention on Road Traffic, Vienna 1968 (status)
This is guidance; rules can change at any time. Always check your destination’s rules before you travel.