Driving Tests

Foreign Driver's License in Idaho: Tests for Germany, Korea, Others

informational·how to guide·Published August 8, 2026

Can I exchange my foreign license in Idaho, and do I take the road test?

Not as a simple swap. Foreign drivers who apply for an Idaho Class D license take the 40-question knowledge test and need 34 correct, per the Idaho Driver's Handbook. Drivers from Germany skip the skills test (the road test). Drivers from Korea or Taiwan skip it only if they give up their foreign license. Drivers from all other countries take it.

Where the Idaho foreign license facts come from

The test rules come from the Idaho Driver's Handbook (July 2026) and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Taking the Driver's Test page. Fees, documents and the New to Idaho rules come from other ITD pages. The visitor, residency, license term and skills test rules come from Idaho Code sections 49-302, 49-119, 49-319 and 49-313. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Idaho Transportation Department DMV (itd.idaho.gov/dmv) or your county driver's license office before you drive.

Can you drive in Idaho on a foreign license?

Yes, as a visitor. Idaho law lets a nonresident who is at least 15 and carries a valid driver's license from his or her home state or country drive in Idaho as a Class D operator, but only if Idaho residency is not established. A visitor under 16 drives in daylight hours only and has full privileges at 16.
Idaho law makes you a resident when your home (domicile) has been in Idaho for at least 30 days. A full-time student who is a resident of another state is excluded. International students can read the Idaho rules for students and ask ITD about their case.

Which tests do foreign drivers take in Idaho?

Which tests do foreign drivers take in Idaho?
Home country	Knowledge test	Skills test	Give up foreign license?
Germany	Yes	No	No
Korea or Taiwan	Yes	Only if you keep your foreign license	Your choice
All other countries	Yes	Yes	No

Korea and Taiwan: give up your license or take the skills test

If you are from Korea or Taiwan, the handbook gives you a choice: give up your foreign license and skip the skills test, or keep it and take the skills test. The ITD New to Idaho page lists Germany, Korea and Taiwan as exceptions without this condition, so ask your county driver's license office which rule it applies. Idaho law requires a skills test from a holder of a foreign license unless a reciprocal agreement is in force, so the list of countries can change.

How the Idaho knowledge test works for foreign drivers

You take the knowledge test at a county driver's license office (the county sheriff's offices issue Idaho licenses). The fee is $5. The questions come from the Idaho Driver's Handbook. The test is offered in English, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese and American Sign Language. If you fail, wait three days (the law says three calendar days) and pay the fee again.
Check yourself on the Idaho knowledge test passing score, and see the Idaho knowledge test guide for how to prepare.

How to get an Idaho license with a foreign license

1
Confirm that you must apply
You must reside in Idaho to get an Idaho license. ITD says to apply within 30 days of residing in Idaho.
2
Gather your documents
Bring a valid foreign passport and lawful presence documents, such as a permanent resident card, an employment authorization document or an I-94 (not the B1, B2, WB, WT or K1 categories). Bring proof of your Idaho address from the last 12 months; two proofs make you eligible for a Star Card, Idaho's REAL ID. If you have no Social Security number, bring written proof of this from the Social Security Administration.
3
Pass the vision screening
You must meet a minimum standard of 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.
4
Pass the knowledge test
The handbook allows the two tests in either order and calls it beneficial to pass the knowledge test first. The ITD test page says the knowledge test must come first, so confirm the order with your county office.
5
Book the skills test if your country needs it
Third-party contractors give all Class D skills tests. Contact the skills test examiner of your choice between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
6
Get your license
After you pass the skills test, return to the county office with the sealed, unopened test envelope. Pay the fees there, and the office issues your license.

What to expect at the Idaho skills test

The skills test takes about 30 minutes and includes a vehicle knowledge inspection. To pass, you must have no more than 12 errors and no critical driving error. Five errors of the same skill count as a critical driving error. If you fail, wait three days and pay both test fees again (to the county office and to the examiner).
If you do not have a valid driver's license, you may not drive yourself to the skills test. A translator may ride with you if the liability waiver is signed.

What the Idaho tests and license cost

What the Idaho tests and license cost
Item	Fee
Knowledge test	$5
Skills test	$35 ($6.50 to the office, up to $28.50 to the examiner)
4-year license (age 21 and over)	$35
8-year license (age 21 to 62)	$60

Who can get an Idaho license, and how long is it valid?

You are not lawfully present in the United States

You are not eligible for an Idaho driver's license or ID card.

You are not a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident

Your license expires on the end date of your lawful stay on your Department of Homeland Security documents, and never later than the same license for a citizen. With no end date on the documents, it is valid for one year. The fee follows the term of the license.

You held an Idaho license before

Idaho law requires no knowledge test for a new Class D license.

How to prepare for the Idaho tests

Study the Idaho Driver's Handbook, because the knowledge test questions come from it.
Try the sample test questions on the ITD website too.
Take the knowledge test in the language you read best. Our free practice tests are in English only.
If a translator rides on your skills test, ask your examiner about the liability waiver before the test day.

Key takeaways

A visitor 15 or older with a valid home-country license may drive in Idaho while Idaho residency is not established.
Foreign drivers take the 40-question knowledge test and need 34 correct, per the handbook.
Germany: no skills test. Korea or Taiwan: no skills test only if you give up your foreign license. All other countries: skills test.
For a Class D license you may keep your foreign license, but you may not use it to drive after you get your Idaho license.
Next step: practice on the free Idaho Class D practice test.

Idaho foreign driver's license: common questions

Can a family member translate the Idaho knowledge test for me?

No. The translator must not be a family member. A translator is allowed only if your language is not offered, or if you tried the test at least three times in an offered language and cannot pass. The translator may only read the test and the answers, and you select your own answers. To schedule a translator, contact your county driver's license office.

Can I still drive on my foreign license after I get an Idaho license?

No. For a Class D license, you do not have to give up your foreign license if no jurisdiction ever issued you a CDL. But after you get your Idaho license, you may not show or use the foreign license to drive. If you do, you could be cited and fined for a misdemeanor.

Can I ride a motorcycle in Idaho on my foreign license?

Yes, as a visitor. Idaho law lets a nonresident who is at least 15 ride a motorcycle in Idaho with a valid motorcycle license, or a license with a motorcycle endorsement, from his or her home state or country. Under 16, daylight hours only. After you get an Idaho license, you need a motorcycle endorsement on it to ride on public roads.

Do I have to give up my foreign license for an Idaho CDL?

Yes. When you apply for an Idaho Commercial Driver's License (CDL), you must surrender every driver's license that any jurisdiction issued to you, foreign or domestic. The Class D rule that lets you keep your foreign license applies only if no jurisdiction ever issued you a CDL.