Driver's License Translation Services

Every certified driver's license translation from PoliLingua includes the full document, both sides, all categories and restrictions, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy, accepted by DMVs, USCIS, employers and insurers. Delivered as a PDF by email, ready to print or present at the DMV counter, notarization and a printed copy are available on request.

A partial translation is one of the most common reasons an application gets sent back, we don't do partial.

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This trips up more people than almost anything else in this process, so it's worth stating plainly, an International Driving Permit cannot be issued to you inside the United States if you hold a foreign license. An IDP has to be obtained from your own country's motor vehicle authority before you travel, it is not a document any US organization can issue for a non-US license. In the US, only AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance issue IDPs, and only to holders of a US license.

So if you're already in the US, didn't get an IDP before you left home, and your license isn't in English, a certified translation is not a fallback option, it's the only realistic way to have your license information understood by a DMV, police officer, rental counter or insurer.

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This works both ways, if you hold a US license and you're driving in another country, you may need it translated as well. Requirements vary by country, but Italy is a useful example of how it typically works for non-EU/EEA visitors.

• Common-Law Countries, the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, accept a certified translation, the same standard the US uses: a complete, accurate translation with a signed statement of accuracy. There's no government-appointed translator requirement.
• Civil-Law Countries, Italy, France, Germany, Spain and most of continental Europe, require a sworn translation, produced by a translator officially registered with a court. A certified translation alone isn't enough there, it has to carry that sworn status to be accepted.

Italy is a useful worked example. EU and EEA license holders don't need any translation there. If you hold a license from outside the EU/EEA, including the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, Italian law requires you to carry either an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official sworn translation alongside the original, neither one is valid on its own. The sworn translation route has a real advantage over the IDP, an IDP has to be obtained before you leave home, but a sworn translation can still be arranged if you're already in Italy and realize you don't have one. Most rental companies there will ask to see one or the other before handing over the keys.

If you're heading to Italy or another country and need your US license translated, certified or sworn, depending on the destination, we handle both.

Translate Your US License for Driving Abroad

• Do I Need an International Driving Permit or a Certified Translation? It depends on your situation. An IDP is obtained in your home country before you travel and is meant to accompany your original license as a standardized multilingual translation. A certified translation serves the same purpose for DMV applications, USCIS filings, and situations where you didn't get an IDP before traveling. If you're already in the US without an IDP, a certified translation is generally your only option.
• Can I get an International Driving Permit While I'm Already in the United States? No. An IDP must be issued by your home country's motor vehicle authority before you travel. In the US, only AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance issue IDPs, and only to holders of a US driver's license, they cannot issue one for a foreign license. If you're already in the US and need your license understood in English, a certified translation is the way to do it.
• How Long can I Drive in the US on my Foreign License Before I Need a State License? It varies by state. Visitors can generally drive on a valid foreign license for a limited period, often up to a year. If you become a resident, every state requires you to obtain a local license within a set window, commonly 30 to 90 days after establishing residency.
• Is Your Driver's License Translation Accepted by the DMV? Yes. Each translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy confirming completeness and correctness, which is the standard DMVs require. We translate the complete license, including the reverse side, categories, restrictions and stamps.
• How Much does Driver's License Translation Cost? Certified translation starts at $25 per document for common languages, since a license is a short, standardized document priced per document rather than per word. Less common languages or older handwritten licenses may cost more. Upload your license for an exact price.
• Do you Translate Both Sides of the License? Yes. A complete translation includes the front and back, vehicle category codes, medical restrictions, endorsements, stamps and the serial number. A translation that omits the reverse side is incomplete and can be rejected.
• Do you Translate US Licenses for Driving Abroad, Like in Italy? Yes. If you're a US license holder traveling to a country outside the EU/EEA framework, you may need an official translation. In Italy, for example, non-EU/EEA visitors must carry either an International Driving Permit or a sworn translation alongside their original license, and unlike an IDP, a sworn translation can still be arranged even after you've already arrived.