Is a Brazilian licence alone enough to drive in the USA?

It depends who is asking: several states accept a foreign licence for a period, but rental companies and insurers may require the official translation. That is why we always work with a valid licence plus an IDP.

Does the IDP replace the licence?

No. The IDP is only the official translation of your licence and entitles nobody to drive on its own. The two travel together, and the IDP expires with the licence.

Do I need a special licence class for an RV?

No. The motorhomes used for tourism in the United States require no commercial licence or special class — an ordinary licence covers them. What changes compared with a car is the size of the vehicle, not the entitlement.

How far ahead should I apply for the IDP?

Processing takes from a few days to a few weeks depending on the issuing state. Apply as soon as you book: it is cheap, valid for years, and the item that least tolerates a last-minute fix.

Does someone who is not driving the RV need an IDP?

Not for the motorhome: with "delivered and set up" you never drive it. If you are driving a rental car to the campground, the requirement applies to the car.

This is the text version of the website. The interactive version requires JavaScript.

Brazilian licence or IDP to drive an RV in the USA: what you actually need

The short answer: both. Your valid Brazilian licence is the document that entitles you to drive, and the IDP (International Driving Permit) is its official translation. The IDP does not replace the licence — they travel together, and that is how MyBearGo hands the vehicle over.

Why the information out there contradicts itself

Plenty of sources say the home licence alone is enough, and plenty say the IDP is mandatory. Both have a grain of truth, and that is what makes it confusing.

Several US states accept a valid foreign licence for a limited period. But the rule is applied in practice by more than the state: by the officer at the roadside, by the rental desk and, above all, by the insurer after an incident. Any of them can ask for the official translation.

So MyBearGo works with a single, deliberately conservative position: valid licence plus IDP, always. It is not excess of caution — it is the difference between sorting something out in five minutes on the shoulder of the road and having an argument that can cost you the vehicle.

What the IDP is, and what it is not

The IDP is issued by the traffic authority of the state that issued your licence, and it translates that licence into several languages under the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. It does not entitle anyone to drive: it is a translation document, and its validity is tied to the licence.

In other words: an IDP without the licence is worth nothing, and an expired licence does not become valid because of an IDP. They go together, and the IDP expires with the licence.

How to get one and how long it takes

The application goes to the traffic authority of the state that issued the licence, in person or online depending on the state. It requires a valid licence, photo ID and a fee.

Processing time varies a lot between states — from a few days to a few weeks. Since the document is valid for years, the common mistake is not the waiting: it is remembering about it right before the trip.

Rule of thumb: apply the same day you book the trip. It is the cheapest item in the whole plan and the only one that cannot be solved at the last minute.

What the rental company asks for beyond the documents

A minimum driver age, which varies by operator and is usually higher for RVs than for cars.

An international credit card in the driver's name for the deposit. A third party's card, even a family member's, is normally not accepted.

Each additional driver registered individually, before pickup. Anyone not on the contract cannot take the wheel — not even for one stretch.

On MyBearGo packages this check happens weeks ahead, along with the vouchers, so nothing is discovered at the counter on pickup day.

And if you would rather not drive

With "delivered and set up", the motorhome is taken, positioned and hooked up at the campground before you arrive. You come by car and never drive the RV — in that case you do not need an IDP for the motorhome.

If you are driving a rental car to the campground, the rule applies again to the car: licence plus IDP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Brazilian licence alone enough to drive in the USA?: It depends who is asking: several states accept a foreign licence for a period, but rental companies and insurers may require the official translation. That is why we always work with a valid licence plus an IDP.
Does the IDP replace the licence?: No. The IDP is only the official translation of your licence and entitles nobody to drive on its own. The two travel together, and the IDP expires with the licence.
Do I need a special licence class for an RV?: No. The motorhomes used for tourism in the United States require no commercial licence or special class — an ordinary licence covers them. What changes compared with a car is the size of the vehicle, not the entitlement.
How far ahead should I apply for the IDP?: Processing takes from a few days to a few weeks depending on the issuing state. Apply as soon as you book: it is cheap, valid for years, and the item that least tolerates a last-minute fix.
Does someone who is not driving the RV need an IDP?: Not for the motorhome: with "delivered and set up" you never drive it. If you are driving a rental car to the campground, the requirement applies to the car.

Sources

Information verified in July 2026. Traffic rules are set by each state in the US and rental policies change — confirm before you travel.

Guides

Brazilian licence or IDP to drive an RV in the USA: what you actually need — The short answer: both. Your valid Brazilian licence is the document that entitles you to drive, and the IDP (International Driving Permit) is its official translation. The IDP does not replace the licence — they travel together, and that is how MyBearGo hands the vehicle over.
What an RV trip through Florida actually costs — The cost of an RV trip is the sum of five blocks: the vehicle, the campground nights, fuel, tickets and food. What usually surprises people is none of them on its own — it is the list of items a standalone rental charges separately and that almost never appears in the advertised price.
A 3 to 5 day RV trip or a long road trip: which one fits your holiday — Most content about RV travel in the United States is about 7 to 16 day road trips. That is a legitimate format, and it is not the only one. For anyone who already has a trip to Florida booked, a 3 to 5 day itinerary answers the same desire without demanding two weeks off or the whole budget.
Camping at Disney in an RV: Fort Wilderness Explained for Families — You wake up in a pine forest, surrounded by the scent of the woods and the sound of birdsong. You walk to the pier, hop on a boat, and disembark right in front of Magic Kingdom. It’s the same park day everyone else experiences—only it starts in a way no one will ever forget.
How to Fit a 4-Day RV Trip Into a Trip to Orlando — The trip to Orlando is already booked: flight, hotel, tickets, outlet mall. This guide covers the logistics of fitting in four days in an RV in the middle of all that—when to leave, what to do with the rental car, what to do with your luggage, and how many days before or after visiting the parks.
Swimming with Manatees in Crystal River: How It Works, When to Go, and What's True — The water is crystal clear and stays around 22 °C (72 °F) all year round. You wade in slowly, without splashing your legs, and wait. A half-metric-ton creature appears from the depths, swims by a meter away, and continues on its way as if you weren’t even there. It’s two hours from Orlando, and almost no Brazilians know it exists.
Florida's Springs by RV: 22-degree water just an hour from Orlando — Crystal-clear water flowing from the ground, a constant temperature of around 22 °C (72 °F) year-round, a forest all around, and almost no Brazilian tourists. Silver Springs has offered glass-bottom boat tours since the 19th century, and monkeys come down to the water’s edge. It’s just over an hour from the parks.
The Everglades by RV: Sleeping at the End of the Continent, Among Alligators and Stars — Flamingo is located 61 km past the park entrance, at the southernmost point of the American continent. At night, there is no town, no cell phone signal, and no artificial light anywhere. A child raised in a big city often sees the entire sky there for the first time.
Key West by RV: The Overseas Highway, Campgrounds, and What Nobody Tells You Ahead of Time — There are 42 bridges over turquoise water. In some spots, you can’t see land on either side—just the road and the sea—and it feels like you’ve taken a wrong turn and driven right into the ocean. Spending the night in Bahia Honda, with your RV just a few meters from the water, is the kind of night the family will talk about for years to come.
Renting an RV in Florida: How It Works for Brazilians — What Changes When Renting an RV (or Trailer) in Florida: Documents Required for Brazilian Citizens, the Difference Between an RV and a Trailer, Where to Camp Between Miami, Orlando, and the Keys, the Best Time to Visit, and What’s Usually Not Included in the Advertised Price.
RV Trip in the U.S.: The Complete Guide for Brazilians — How a motorhome (RV) trip through the United States works: driver’s license requirements for Brazilians, types of vehicles, where to stay, how many miles you drive per day, how much it costs, and the differences between driving yourself and having the RV set up for you at the campground.