Foreign licenses and getting an Idaho license
By J&H Digital Services LLCChecked Oct 23, 20267 sources
Visitors who are not Idaho residents can drive on a valid license from their home country. Once you live in Idaho, you need an Idaho license within 30 days. Foreign license holders take the written test, and most also take a road test. If you are not a U.S. citizen, your Idaho license expires when your authorized stay ends, or after 4 years, whichever comes first.
The written test has 40 questions and you can miss up to 6. It is offered in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Swahili, Vietnamese and ASL video. Use the free practice test first.
Bring your passport and immigration documents (for example a permanent resident card, an EAD, an I-94, an I-20 or a DS-2019), your , and two proofs of your Idaho address. If you have no Social Security number, bring a letter from the Social Security Administration saying none was assigned.
No foreign drivers are exempt from the written test. If you fail, wait 3 days and pay again to retest.
Most foreign license holders must take the road test. Drivers from Germany do not. Drivers from Korea or Taiwan can skip it only if they surrender their home license. Road tests are given by private examiners; you call one from the ITD list, bring a car in good working order, and return to the office with your sealed results. You may make up to 12 errors with no critical errors.
You leave with a paper temporary license and the card comes by mail. Most foreign drivers can keep their home license, but you may not show or use it to drive in Idaho once you hold an Idaho license.
Idaho law does not mention one. A permit is only a translation and must be carried with your home license. It helps if your license is not in English, and rental companies or police may find it useful. Get it in your home country before you travel; it cannot be issued in Idaho.
Idaho sets no fixed number of days for visitors. The rule is residency: once you live in Idaho, the 30-day deadline applies. Students at Idaho colleges and active-duty military and their families can keep using a valid home license.
If your immigration documents are renewed, bring the new ones to the office to renew. If your documents show no end date, the license is issued for 1 year.
Yes. Every car driven in Idaho must have liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for injuries, and $15,000 for property damage. If you rent, ask the rental company what liability coverage is included.
Fees, rules and providers change. Confirm with the official source before you go.
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