International Driver's License for Peru

Peru may accept a foreign license for short tourist stays, but an International Driver's License is strongly recommended for anyone driving there. Peru drives on the right and its police, rental agencies and insurers operate in Spanish, so the IDL provides an official translation that makes your national license easy to verify. Carry both together — the IDL supplements your home license rather than replacing it. You can apply online through E-ITA and receive your digital copy in minutes.

An IDL (International Driver's License) or IDP (International Driving Permit) is a recognised translation of the national license you already hold. In Peru it helps police and rental companies read the categories and validity of your license without deciphering a foreign card, which is useful given the language difference. On its own it grants no driving rights — it is only valid when presented with your physical home license.

* People drive on the right side of the road.

* The minimum age to drive a car is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 years old.

* Peru does have a national seat belt law, so wear a seat belt whenever one is available.

* Peru prohibits mobile phone use while driving, though a hands-free device is permitted.

* Helmets are required by law for motorcycle and scooter riders — both driver and passenger. There is no age restriction for child passengers as long as they are wearing a helmet.

* Legal Blood Alcohol Content Level: 0.05%. Do not drink and drive.

* The maximum driving speed is 60 km/h (37 miles/hour) in urban areas and 60 km/h (37 miles/hour) in rural areas.

Rental agencies in Peru commonly ask to see an International Driver's License together with your home license, especially outside Lima. You must be at least 21 to rent (even though the driving age is 18), and a credit card in the main driver's name is normally required. Bringing your IDL avoids delays at the counter and helps with any insurance paperwork.

The legal Blood Alcohol Content level in Peru is 0.05%. Enforcement includes roadside checks, and penalties for exceeding the limit are significant, so it is safest not to drink and drive at all. If you plan to have a drink, use a taxi or a designated driver.

Peru applies relatively low limits — around 60 km/h (37 mph) in urban areas and similar figures on many rural stretches, with higher limits only where clearly signposted on major highways. Mountain roads in the Andes are winding and can be affected by weather and altitude, so drive well below the posted limit where conditions demand and watch for posted signs.

Yes. Peru's helmet law covers both the rider and the passenger on any motorcycle or scooter. Child passengers are permitted provided they too are wearing a helmet. Mototaxis and scooters are common in many Peruvian towns, so if you ride one, make sure everyone on board has a properly fitted helmet.

Yes. Because E-ITA processes the application online, you can apply shortly before your trip — or even after arriving in Peru — and receive a digital IDL within minutes. Arranging it before you collect a rental car is best, so the document is ready if a rental desk or the police ask to see it.

Apply online through E-ITA by submitting a photo of your valid national license and your details. A digital International Driver's License is issued in minutes so you can drive in Peru straight away, with the printed booklet mailed to you afterwards. No driving test is needed because the IDL only translates the license you already hold.