Can International Students Drive in Idaho? F-1 and J-1 License Rules
Can international students drive in Idaho?
Yes, in some cases. Idaho Code 49-302 lets a nonresident aged 15 or older drive with a valid license from the home state or country, but only while Idaho residency is not established. The law makes a person a resident after 30 days of domicile in Idaho, excluding a full-time student who is a resident of another state. An Idaho resident needs an Idaho license.
Where the Idaho student driving facts come from
The nonresident driving rule comes from Idaho Code 49-302. The student rule and the fees come from the ITD driver's licenses page. The document rules come from the ITD required documents page. The ITD F-1 student policy (2019), Idaho Code 49-119, 49-303, 49-313 and 49-319, the ITD driver's test guide, the Star Card FAQ and the Idaho Driver's Handbook (July 2026) give the other details. 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.
When can you drive in Idaho on your home-country license?
Anyone who drives a motor vehicle on public roads in Idaho needs a valid driver's license. Under the nonresident rule, keep your valid home license with you when you drive. The rule does not apply if your driving privileges are suspended, canceled, revoked, disqualified, denied or refused.
The 30-day resident test counts your domicile, and a domicile is not a workplace, vacation or part-time home. ITD says students at an Idaho college or university with a valid license from another U.S. state, who claim residency there, need no Idaho license. With a license from another country, call ITD at (208) 584-4343 and ask how the residency rule applies to you.
Which Idaho rule fits your situation?
Documents F-1 and J-1 students bring for an Idaho license
- Lawful presence: your I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1), and your valid foreign passport with your I-94. An I-94 does not count for the B1, B2, WB, WT or K1 categories. ITD checks your papers with USCIS.
- Identity: your valid foreign passport, together with your lawful presence papers.
- Idaho residency: a paper with your name and Idaho address from the last 12 months. Idaho school enrollment records with your current address, or a Verification of Compliance (VOC) for the current school year and address, count.
- Social Security number: give your number. If no number was assigned to you, bring written proof of this from the Social Security Administration.
- Originals only: ITD does not accept photocopies or laminated documents. For the full list, see our guide to Idaho license documents and the Star Card.
How long does an Idaho license last for a non-citizen?
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, Idaho Code 49-319 makes your license end on the last day of lawful stay shown on your Department of Homeland Security documents. If those documents show no end date, the license expires one year after issue. The Idaho Driver's Handbook adds a limit: the end of lawful stay or four years, whichever is less. At the end of a one-year license, you can renew it with proof of continued lawful status.
What happens to your home license after you get an Idaho license?
For an Idaho Class D license, you do not have to surrender your foreign license. But after Idaho issues your license, you may not show or use the foreign license to drive. The Idaho Driver's Handbook says that if you do, you could be cited and fined for a misdemeanor.
Idaho Code 49-313 requires a skills test for a license from another country unless a reciprocal agreement is in force, so the list of exempt countries can change. Our guide to Idaho foreign license rules explains the exceptions.
Idaho tests for international students
| Test | Who takes it | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test | All foreign drivers. 40 questions; 34 correct to pass, per the Idaho Driver's Handbook. | $5 | County driver's license office (run by the county sheriff) |
| Skills test | All foreign drivers, except drivers from Germany, and drivers from Korea or Taiwan who surrender their foreign license. | $35 ($6.50 to the office, up to $28.50 to the examiner) | A skills test examiner |
What if you fail an Idaho test?
If you fail the knowledge test or the skills test, Idaho law does not let you retake it within three calendar days. You pay the test fee again: the handbook says all retest fees are the same as the original fees. Before you go back, try our free questions on the knowledge test pass mark and the wait after a failed test.
Key takeaways
- A nonresident aged 15 or older may drive on a valid home license only while Idaho residency is not established.
- ITD says that new Idaho residents apply for an Idaho license within 30 days. Call ITD at (208) 584-4343 if you are not sure which rule fits you.
- Bring your passport, I-20 or DS-2019, I-94, Idaho residency proof from the last 12 months, and a Social Security number or SSA letter. Bring originals.
- All foreign drivers take the 40-question knowledge test ($5). All except drivers from Germany, and from Korea or Taiwan with a surrendered license, take the skills test ($35).
- Next step: practice on the free Idaho Class D practice test.
Idaho international student driving: common questions
Can I use my student ID as proof of Idaho residency?
No. ITD does not accept a college ID as proof of Idaho residency. Bring a paper with your name and Idaho address from the last 12 months. Idaho school enrollment records with your current address count, and so does a VOC for the current school year and address.
Can I use my EAD card at the Idaho DMV?
Yes, as proof of lawful presence. ITD lists an unexpired Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766 or Form I-688B) among the documents that may be acceptable. Bring the original, because ITD does not accept photocopies or laminated documents. ITD checks your papers with USCIS, so bring as much lawful presence proof as you can, such as your I-20 or DS-2019 and your passport with I-94, to avoid processing delays.
What if I do not have a Social Security number?
Bring written proof from the Social Security Administration that no number was assigned to you. Applicants must give a Social Security number when the license is issued, so this letter takes its place. ITD needs a new letter at each later renewal, so get a new one before each renewal visit.
Do I need a Star Card as an international student?
Not for driving. A license without the Star stays valid for driving, banking, social services, voting and buying alcohol. From May 7, 2025, you need a license or ID with the Star, or another accepted ID such as a passport, to fly commercially or enter a federal facility.
Can I live in Idaho while I do OPT in another state?
Yes. An ITD policy says that a foreign student may live in Idaho while doing an assigned internship or optional practical training (OPT) in another state. For an Idaho license, you still bring your I-20, visa with I-94, passport, Social Security number or denial letter, and proof of Idaho residency. For questions, call the ITD DMV Driver's License Unit at (800) 648-6697.
Practise for your Idaho Class D Knowledge test
6 free practice tests with 120 questions, answers and explanations.
Start free Practice Test 1Share or ask AI about this article
Continue the conversation or send this guide to someone who needs it.
Related guides
How to Get a Class 7 Learner's Licence in Alberta (2026 Steps)
You can apply for an Alberta Class 7 learner's licence at 14. See the four steps, the knowledge test fee, the temporary licence and what you may drive.
Florida Learner's License at 15: Requirements, Hours and Rules
How to get a Florida learner's license at 15: the tests, the course, parental consent, who must ride with you, when you can drive and what comes next.
Can International Students Drive in Michigan? License Rules
Yes, if you are temporarily in the U.S., you may drive on your home license, with a translation or IDP if it is not in English. See the F-1 and J-1 documents.