Driving in India
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
India accepts the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP issued in Australia, carried with your Australian licence.
What Australian drivers need to know
- Self-driving is not recommended for most visitors. Hiring a car with a driver costs little more and is dramatically less stressful.
- A full day with a car and driver typically costs AUD $50 – $90.
- Uber and Ola operate in all major cities and are cheap.
- Traffic norms differ radically from Australia — lane markings and right of way are advisory.
How to get an International Driving Permit in Australia
Only the state and territory motoring clubs affiliated with the Australian Automobile Association can issue one — NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC, RACT and AANT. It costs around $49, you don't need to be a member, and it's valid for 12 months.
You cannot get one once you have left Australia. Apply at least two weeks before you fly.
Read the full IDP guideInsurance warning. Australian travel insurance policies exclude claims from driving or riding without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country. A car licence does not cover a scooter — hiring one in India without a motorcycle class on your Australian licence means an accident is entirely uninsured.
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