Countries
Driving in Hungary with a US license
Hungary gives two ways to make a US license usable. The permit is the easier one for a visitor.
Do you need an International Driving Permit there?
Driving in Hungary on a US license
IDP or official translation required
| US license counts | 1 year after you become a resident |
| IDP | An IDP from AAA or AATA is the simplest way to meet the rule; an official translation is the other. |
| Conventions | Party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna conventions (1949: 1962) (1968: 1976) |
| Rule | State Department A US license is valid for one year with a certified Hungarian translation attached; an IDP issued by AAA is also accepted with the license. After a year of residence, a Hungarian license is required. |
Source: U.S. Department of State, Hungary country information (updated April 23, 2026). Not legal advice; the country's own authorities decide.
Driving in Hungary: the full rulesYou can drive in Hungary with a valid US license for one year as long as a certified Hungarian translation of the license is attached, according to the State Department's Hungary page, updated on April 23, 2026. International driving permits issued by AAA are also acceptable when used with a valid state license. After one year of residence, a Hungarian license is required. Hungary is a party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions. The country has zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and prison sentences for DUI or accidents caused by impaired drivers are severe. Children under 12 may not sit in the front seat, and seat belts are mandatory. Highways require a toll, paid at a gas station or online before you drive. Highways and city roads are generally in good condition; rural roads are narrow, poorly lit and shared with tractors and animals.
Which road traffic convention has this country joined?
Hungary
Both conventions
| 1949 Geneva | party since 1962 |
| 1968 Vienna | party since 1976 |
| Our reading of the rule: IDP or official translation required | |
Party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna conventions. The United States is a party to the 1949 convention only; a country's own law can still ask for more, or less.
Rules read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Translation or permit
A certified translation into Hungarian has to be ordered and paid for, and it serves only in Hungary. A permit from AAA or AATA costs a $20 permit fee and is recognized in neighboring countries as well, such as Austria, which requires a permit or translation too. For a visitor the permit is the better choice; a resident who will exchange the license later may prefer the translation, which the exchange process may also require.
Tolls
Hungary's motorways use an electronic vignette linked to the license plate. Buy it before entering a motorway; rental cars may or may not include it. Information on road conditions is available from Útinform, whose number is on the State Department page.
Hungary at a glance
| What a US license holder needs | IDP or official translation required |
| How long the US license counts | 1 year after you become a resident |
| Side of the road | right, as in the United States |
| 1949 Geneva convention | party since July 30, 1962 |
| 1968 Vienna convention | party since March 16, 1976 |
| Rule read in | U.S. Department of State, Hungary country information (updated April 23, 2026) |
What the State Department page says
| Passage on driver's licenses, as published |
|---|
| You can drive in Hungary with a valid U.S. driver’s license for one year as long as you have a certified Hungarian translation of the license attached. After one year of residence, you must obtain a Hungarian driver’s license. |
| International driver’s permits (IDP) issued by the American Automobile Association (AAA) are acceptable when used with a valid state driver’s license. |