Yes, you can drive in the United States with your home country's license. No state requires an International Driving Permit as a standalone document, and Florida, California, Texas, New York, Nevada and Illinois recognize a foreign visitor's valid license by law for the length of their stay. What does vary between states and rental companies is what else they ask for besides your license, what renting costs if you're under 25, which insurance you really need and which traffic rules differ from those back home. This guide answers all of that for international visitors, with a full section on renting a car in the United States: requirements, minimum age, debit or credit, insurance, tolls and the daily cost. Last checked October 26, 2026.
The short version
- Your valid license is enough if it's printed in the Latin alphabet. If it isn't, an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended. Always carry it with your passport and the rental agreement.
- The International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation, not a separate license. It isn't mandatory, but some rental agencies and police officers in Florida, Texas, Georgia and California may ask for it as backup. You get it in your home country before you travel, usually from the national automobile club, typically for the equivalent of $20 to $60.
- To rent a car: at least 21 in most of the country, a card in your name, your passport and a valid license. Up to age 24 you pay a daily surcharge, which at Enterprise ranges from $15.50 to $68.75 depending on the state and your age.
- The five rules that most often lead to tickets for foreign drivers: stopping completely when a school bus has its red lights on, not blocking the intersection, respecting speed limits in miles per hour, not holding your phone and turning right on red only after a full stop.
What the law says in each major tourist state
The six states with the most international visitors follow the same principle, with nuances. Florida (statute 322.04): a nonresident aged 16 or older with a valid license from their country may drive without a Florida license; the International Driving Permit requirement passed in 2013 was repealed months later and no longer exists. California (Vehicle Code 12502): a visitor aged 18 or older with a valid license from their country, with no time limit while they remain a visitor. Texas: recognizes the foreign license of someone who doesn't live in the state; people who move there get 90 days to get a Texas license. New York: the DMV states explicitly that visitors may drive on their home license while it's valid; only those who establish residency (living there 90 days) must exchange it. Illinois: a nonresident with a valid license from their country may drive for as long as they're visiting. Nevada: same rule, and the state license requirement only kicks in once you become a resident.
The key word is visitor. On a B1/B2 visa or an ESTA you are a visitor and your license is valid until the day you leave; your I-94 shows until when. If you stay to study or work, the 30- to 90-day deadlines to get a local license start running, and in Florida, since February 6, 2026, the test is given only in English. None of this affects tourists.
The International Driving Permit: what it is and when it's worth it
The International Driving Permit (IDP) is a booklet issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention or the 1949 Geneva Convention that translates your license into ten languages. It doesn't replace your license; you show it alongside it. The United States doesn't require it in any state, but it helps in two situations: when a police officer or rental agency can't understand your license, which is likely if it's in a non-Latin script, and when your license has no photo or no clear vehicle category. You get it in the country that issued your license, usually from the national automobile club, often on the same day with a passport photo and your valid license. AAA in the US issues IDPs only to holders of US licenses, so you won't be able to get one after you arrive. If you have time and it's cheap, get it; if not, it's not something to worry about with a license in the Latin alphabet.
Renting a car in the US: requirements
The big companies, such as Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, Alamo and Sixt, ask tourists for the same things.
- A valid driver's license from your country, with a photo. Avis notes that an IDP on its own isn't accepted; it has to be presented together with your national license.
- Your passport, as additional ID.
- A card in the driver's name, for payment and the security hold.
- Minimum age: 21 in most of the country. In New York and Michigan, state law allows renting from 18, with high surcharges.
The most common question is whether you can rent with a foreign license. Yes, under the conditions above. What varies from country to country isn't the license, it's the card.
Minimum age and the under-25 surcharge
Up to age 24 you pay an extra daily fee. These are the amounts Enterprise publishes on its official site.
| State | Ages 18 to 20 | Ages 21 to 24 |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $68.75 per day | $33.25 per day |
| Michigan | $34 per day | $15.50 per day |
| Rest of the country | Doesn't rent | About $25 per day on average |
At Avis the fee runs around $27 to $35 per day depending on the location. Over a week, the surcharge can cost more than the rental itself, so if someone in your group is 25 or older, put the contract in their name.
Debit or credit, and how much they hold
With a credit card, everything is simpler. With debit, each company has its own rules.
- Enterprise accepts Visa, Mastercard or Discover debit cards. At airports, only if you show a return ticket. Without one, the hold ranges from $200 to $850 depending on the location and car class. Prepaid cards are not accepted.
- Avis accepts Visa or Mastercard debit at most US locations if you're 25 or older, holding the rental amount plus at least $250.
- Hertz publishes debit holds of $200 to $750 depending on car class, with variations by location.
A hold isn't a charge. It's released when you return the car, but it can take days to reach your account again, and with a debit card that money stays blocked during your trip. So if you have a credit card, use it for the rental. How holds work at hotels and gas stations is explained in how much money to bring to the US.
Rental car insurance: what's worth buying
This is where people spend the most and get the most confused. There are two main coverages, which the agency sells separately from the rental price.
- Damage to the car (LDW or CDW). Covers the car you rented. Some credit cards include it if you pay for the whole rental with them and decline the agency's coverage. Conditions depend on the bank and the country that issued the card, so ask for the coverage letter before you travel and bring a printed copy.
- Supplemental liability (SLI, LIS or ALI). Covers damage you cause to others. The rental includes only each state's minimums, which are low. Avis's ALI, for example, raises coverage to $500,000. A crash with injuries in the US can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so this is the coverage not to skip.
Travel insurance usually doesn't cover rental car liability. Check what yours covers in our guide to travel insurance.
How much does a rental car cost per day?
According to Kayak, on October 26, 2026, a rental car in the US cost an average of $37 per day, about $259 per week, with small cars around $18 per day and January as the cheapest month. It's an average of searches that changes daily, but it helps you judge whether a rate is reasonable. On top of that base price, add several things.
- Any insurance you buy at the counter.
- Taxes and airport fees, which raise the total considerably when you pick up at the terminal.
- Tolls. Hertz charges $5.95 for each day you use a toll road, Enterprise $4.95 with a cap of $34.65 per rental, and Avis $6.95 with a cap of $34.75. That's on top of the toll itself. In Florida and Texas, it pays to understand the system before you go.
- Additional drivers. Charged per day, with some exceptions. In California, the law exempts a licensed spouse who meets the minimum age.
- Gas. Return the car with a full tank, or the agency will charge you far more for fuel than the gas station would.
If you'll return the car in another city, the agency charges a one-way fee with no fixed rate, so get a quote first. And if you plan to cross into Mexico or Canada, check the agency's policy, because not all allow it and insurance changes at the border.
Traffic rules that are different
- Speed in miles per hour. 65 to 70 mph (105 to 113 km/h) on freeways, 55 on highways, 25 to 35 in town, 15 to 20 in school zones with flashing lights. Speed cameras and traffic police are common, and a ticket for 15 mph over runs around $200 to $300.
- The yellow school bus. When it extends its STOP sign and turns on its red lights, cars in both directions (except on divided highways) must stop until the lights go off. It's the most expensive violation for foreign drivers: $200 to $500, and in Florida, license suspension for repeat offenses.
- Right turn on red. Allowed after a full stop and yielding, unless a "No turn on red" sign says otherwise. In New York City it's prohibited unless a sign allows it.
- Four-way stops. Whoever arrived first goes first; in a tie, the car on the right. Nobody honks; you wait.
- Phones. Texting is prohibited in all six states. Holding your phone at all is prohibited in California, New York, Illinois and Nevada, and in Florida and Texas in school and work zones. Use a mount and hands-free.
- Alcohol. The limit is 0.08 percent blood alcohol nationwide (0.02 for drivers under 21). A DUI for a tourist means arrest, bail and visa revocation.
- Children. Car seats or boosters are mandatory up to age 5 in Florida, up to 8 in California, Texas, New York and Illinois, and up to 6 in Nevada. Agencies rent seats for $10 to $15 per day.
- HOV and Express lanes. Diamond lanes are for cars with two or more occupants; Express Lanes charge dynamic tolls by license plate.
- Cashless tolls. Florida and much of Texas and Illinois collect tolls electronically only; with a rental car, check the agency's toll program or get your own transponder.
If the police pull you over
Turn on the interior light if it's dark, pull over to the right, turn off the engine and stay inside with your hands visible on the steering wheel. Don't get out or reach for documents until the officer asks, and say what you're doing before you move your hands ("my license is in my bag"). Hand over your license, passport and rental agreement. You never pay a fine to the officer. It comes as a ticket with a website for paying online, and rental companies will charge it to your card with an administrative fee if you don't pay it before returning the car. If your English is limited, say so politely; in Florida, Texas, California and Nevada many officers also speak Spanish.
What to keep in the car
Your home license, your passport (or a copy, with the passport at the hotel, although the law asks for valid ID), the rental agreement with proof of insurance and, if you got one, the IDP. Download offline maps for the area, because coverage drops in the Everglades, in the Nevada desert and on stretches of I-10 between Houston and San Antonio. And if you're traveling with children or doing long drives between cities, check beforehand what travel insurance covers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in the US with my foreign driver's license?
Yes. Any valid license with a photo in the Latin alphabet lets you drive as a visitor in every state, including Florida, California, Texas, New York, Nevada and Illinois. Carry your passport with it. If your license uses another alphabet, bring an IDP.
Do you need an International Driving Permit to drive in the US?
It's not mandatory in any state. It's a translation that accompanies your license; some agencies or police in Florida, Texas, Georgia and California may ask for it as backup. You get it in your home country before traveling.
How long can I drive in the US on a foreign license?
As long as you're a visitor (B1/B2 visa or ESTA), for your entire stay, up to your I-94 date. The 30- to 90-day deadlines to get a local license apply only to people who establish residency, study or work.
What do you need to rent a car in the US as a foreigner?
A valid license from your country, your passport, a card in the driver's name and a minimum age of 21. The hold ranges from about $200 to $850 depending on the company, and up to age 24 you pay a daily surcharge.
Can you rent a car with a debit card in the US?
At some companies, yes, with conditions. Enterprise accepts it at airports if you show a return ticket, and Avis if you're 25 or older. Debit holds are larger and the money stays blocked until released.
How much does it cost to rent a car per day in the US?
According to Kayak, about $37 per day on average in October 2026, before insurance, taxes, tolls and airport fees.
What insurance do I need to rent a car in the US?
Damage coverage (LDW or CDW), which some credit cards provide if you pay with them and decline the agency's, and supplemental liability (SLI, LIS or ALI), which is always worth taking because the legal minimum included in the rental is very low.
What happens if I get a ticket in a rental car?
You pay the ticket online on the county's website. If you don't, the rental company charges it to your card with an administrative fee. A traffic ticket doesn't affect your visa; an alcohol-related arrest does.