If you plan to drive a car while you are in the United States, you may do so for one year using a driver's license from your home country and an International Driver's Permit (IDP).
This is the simplest way to be licensed to drive in the United States.
You must get your IDP in your home country before you arrive in the United States. The United States does not issue IDPs to nonresidents.
An IDP is proof that you hold a valid driver's license in your own country. It also provides a translation into almost a dozen languages so that police and other authorities in other countries can read your license in their own language.
The IDP is a special license authorized by United Nations conventions on road safety. Nearly 180 countries are signatories.
The process for obtaining an IDP varies by the issuing country. Contact the agency that granted you your driver's license, such as the department of transportation or department of state, to inquire about the process. Do your research to make sure that the entity you are working with to obtain an IDP is reputable. Verify the source with a government agency, if possible.
The issuing authority will require you to submit two passport-style photos and fill out an official form. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license in your home country. You will not be required to take a driving test, but there is a small fee for the license.
An IDP cannot be postdated, extended, or renewed, and is valid for only one year from the date of issue. Additionally, be sure that your driver’s license will not expire during that time. You must have both an unexpired IDP and an unexpired driver's license to drive legally.
DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR IDP ONLINE.
These online services are not valid and will not be accepted in the US. Check with your local license provider for instructions.
If you wish to drive and either do not have a driver's license from your home country or you have been in the United States for more than one year, you will need to get an Indiana driver's license.
There are two Driving Schools in Kokomo that can guide students through the process to obtain the driver license. Students who choose to obtain their driver license through this method will be able to complete both their written test for the learner permit and driving skill practice. Students will not have to take the driving test at the BMV should they choose to go through this process. This list is provided only as a reference for student’s convenience and does not constitute IU’s endorsement of these services.
Accredited Driving School
2704 S Goyer Rd.
Kokomo, IN 46902
American Driving Academy
1791 W. Lincoln Rd.
Kokomo, IN 46902
Get Your Learner's Permit First
If you do not have a driver's license in your home country, the first step to getting an Indiana driver's license is to obtain a learner's permit. A learner's permit allows you to practice driving under the supervision of a licensed driver so that you can learn the rules of the road well enough to pass the tests required to obtain your driver's license.
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has more information about getting and using a learner's permit.
Your learner's permit will have an expiration date on it. You have until that date to obtain a permanent driver's license. If you let the permit expire, you will have to start the process over from the beginning.
When you are ready to apply for your permanent driver's license, you will need to go back to the BMV to take a driving test, written knowledge test, and vision test and to supply the required documents.
You must make an appointment for the driving test, and you must provide a car for the test. The BMV explains how to make an appointment, as well as what documents you will need to bring, on its website.
- Learn about getting a driver's license
- Find the closest BMV location