Driving in Andorra with an Idaho Driving Licence: IDP Requirements and Rules
Yes. An Idaho licence holder can drive in Andorra when the Idaho licence is valid and is carried with a compliant International Driving Permit (IDP). U.S. Department of State guidance for Andorra says an IDP must be obtained before arrival. Andorra's current driving-permit regulation recognizes 1949 Geneva Convention IDPs when carried with the national licence. No separate visitor translation rule was verified.
Quick answer
For a short visit, take the original Idaho licence and a valid 1949 Geneva IDP. The IDP is not a stand-alone licence. Driving is limited to the vehicle categories authorised by the documents. No fixed non-resident driving period was identified in the Andorran licence rule, but the IDP must remain valid and residency changes the position.
Legal treatment of an Idaho licence in Andorra
Andorra's 2025 regulation lists valid foreign permits. It recognizes international permits issued by non-EU and non-EFTA countries in accordance with Annex 10 of the 1949 Geneva Convention when the IDP is accompanied by the holder's national driving licence and used only for the authorised categories. For an Idaho driver, the legally supported route is therefore the original Idaho licence plus the compliant IDP.
The regulation also recognizes certain national licences that conform to the Geneva or Vienna national-permit models. No authoritative source checked for this page established that an Idaho licence by itself satisfies that separate model test, so the page does not treat the Idaho card alone as sufficient.
International Driving Permit requirement and model
The U.S. Department of State's Andorra guidance says a driver must obtain an IDP before arrival. The applicable U.S. IDP model is the 1949 Geneva Convention model: Andorra expressly accepts that model, and U.S. Department of State guidance identifies AAA and AATA as the authorised U.S. issuers meeting the 1949 Convention standard. Idaho Transportation Department specifically directs Idaho drivers to AAA for an IDP.
The IDP must be carried with the original Idaho licence. A separate certified or sworn translation was not identified as an additional legal requirement for a visitor using this accepted IDP route.
Visitor and resident rules
For a non-resident visitor, no fixed maximum number of driving days was verified in the current Andorran licence regulation. The driver must continue to hold valid documents, including a valid IDP. Because the visitor rule is not expressed as a fixed day count, max_visitor_days is left as NULL.
Once a person obtains habitual residence in Andorra, the rules change. For foreign permits falling under the recognized foreign-permit routes, the regulation sets a maximum of six months from obtaining residence for the foreign permit to remain valid for driving. The exchange provisions require the foreign permit to be changed within one year where applicable. For the non-EU and non-EFTA routes, the regulation provides that theory for categories A and B is recognized but practical tests are required for each category, subject to the regulation's reciprocity rule.
Rental-car requirements
Rental policy is separate from Andorran driving law. No industry-wide Andorra requirement was verified. Europcar's Andorra page says the renter must present the normal driving licence and that an international driving licence is mandatory when the national licence is in a different language from the renting country or uses characters that cannot be read there. It also asks for an identity document such as a passport and a valid credit card. Confirm the exact company and station terms before pickup.
Police documents and insurance
U.S. Department of State guidance for Andorra says drivers must carry driving permits, documents related to vehicle ownership and vehicle insurance. Andorran law allows traffic authorities to request proof of the insurance policy and proof that it is current.
Andorra's Road Traffic Code requires foreign vehicles circulating in the country to have insurance that covers at least the liabilities required for vehicles registered in Andorra. The compulsory cover includes third-party and occupant damage. This insurance rule is separate from the licence and IDP requirement.
Relevant exceptions and limits
The IDP is valid only with the original national licence, and it does not expand the vehicle categories the holder is allowed to drive. Specialised or professional driving can require additional Andorran authorisation. Resident rules are materially stricter than visitor rules because the foreign-permit driving period becomes limited after residence is obtained. No Idaho-specific bilateral licence-exchange agreement was verified.
Official sources used
- Government of Andorra, Portal Jurídic, Regulation of 2 July 2025 on driving permits and the driving-permit register, especially Articles 14 and 15, https://portaljuridicandorra.ad/R20250702B, checked 2026-10-03
- Government of Andorra, Portal Jurídic, Law 12/2021 Road Traffic Code, especially Articles 89 and 98, https://portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2021012, checked 2026-10-03
- U.S. Department of State, Andorra travel guidance, Traffic laws section, https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.and.html, checked 2026-10-03
- U.S. Department of State, International Driving Permit scam guidance identifying authorised U.S. issuers under the 1949 Convention, https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/scams.html, checked 2026-10-03
- Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho Driver's Handbook, https://itd.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/driver_manual.pdf, checked 2026-10-03
- Europcar, Andorra la Vella rental information and document requirements, https://www.europcar.com/en-us/places/car-rental-andorra/andorra-la-vella, checked 2026-10-03
Practical recommendation
Obtain the 1949 Geneva IDP before leaving the United States, then carry it with the original Idaho licence. Idaho Transportation Department directs Idaho drivers to AAA, and U.S. Department of State guidance also identifies AATA as an authorised issuer. Carry passport or required identification, vehicle ownership or registration documents and insurance proof, and verify the rental company's current document rules before pickup. New residents should contact the Andorran Register of Driving Permits well before the six-month driving limit.
Last verified date
This information was checked against the listed government, official issuer and named rental-company sources on 2026-10-03.