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Texas insurance glossary

International driving permit

An international driving permit is a translation of a valid foreign license, and it carries no driving privilege of its own in Texas or anywhere else.

Sources checked

The permit translates the license it accompanies. It is not a license, it cannot stand alone, and a driver whose home license is invalid gains nothing from carrying one.

Texas gives new residents a limited window to obtain a Texas license after establishing residency, and the DPS page on moving to Texas is the authority on the current period and the documents required.

For insurance the practical point is separate: an insurer rates the driver, and a foreign license with no US history is thin rating information rather than a bar.

Sources: Texas DPS — moving to Texas; Texas Transportation Code ch. 521 — Driver's Licenses and Certificates; TDI — automobile insurance guide (CB020). Verified .

A definition, not legal advice and not a quote. Rules and figures change; confirm your own situation against the source named above, or with us, before you act on it. Last checked .

See also

  • ITIN An ITIN is an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number the IRS issues to people who must file US taxes but cannot get a Social Security number.
  • Proof of insurance Proof of insurance is the evidence a Texas driver must be able to show on request that financial responsibility is established for the vehicle they are operating.
  • Named insured The named insured is the person or business actually named on the policy, who owns the contract, pays for it and holds the rights it grants.
  • Suspended license A suspended license is a driving privilege the state has withdrawn for a stated period, which returns once the cause is cleared and the requirements are met.

Where this is handled

Knowing what a coverage is called is not the same as knowing what is on your policy. One independent agency can read your declarations page with you and compare the markets that will write your record.

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