roussillon

Has anyone had experience like this?

I have been renting cars all over Europe for years, and this time, I was booking a car on the Hertz link from Ryanair for Pisa...

After giving my credit card details etc after agreeing the model and days, the confirmation email had a section called "Warnings":
**************
Your Arrival Information: Warning Messages:


NON RESIDENT RENTERS REQ. INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS LICENSE
Rate returned requires an airline ticket or boarding pass
Minimum Age 25 outside US - Exceptions may apply
Age Restrictions Apply-Check Terms and Conditions
CHECK DRIVING RESTRICTIONS FOR TOURING EUROPE*********

So I called Hertz Int'l in the States, and they actually Confirmed that in Italy they are requiring the International Driving License because they said this situation was created by the Italians, and they had been fining people 400Euros for driving without an IDL! The lady said this has been going on for more than a year.


I asked for the local number of the agency in Pisa. A nice Italian voice checked the situation, and said, "well, here in Pisa, if you have a US passport and a US license, we are recommending but not requiring the IDL"

So I guess, in theory , there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice there is.

Has anyone been burned on this. My other thought was that it was a trap to say "you did not meet the conditions of your reservation" allowing them to charge a much higher rate.

This whole thing smells a little funny. Please chime in here. Rouss

J62

International Driver Permit is a legal requirement in Italy. Whether or not the rental car co cares is besides the point. It has been and still is a legal requirement.

It costs $15 + 2 passport photos as AAA office. I don't quite understand all the fuss.

ekscrunchy

You are supposed to have it in Italy. You can rent the car without it. The problem comes if and when you get stopped for any kind of infraction or police check. It's such a small amount of fuss you might as well get it. That said, I have rented a car without it and been lucky but why take the risk.

roussillon

Well I happen to be in Europe already and am not able to fly home to get the document.

And by the way, I am sure you are aware that the document ONLY has value as a translation...it is worthless without your orginal home license.

And an a person with a UK license (in English, obviously) cannot be compelled to acquire this document under current European law.

And my passport is written in only English and French...so how is it that the carabinieri can read one but not the other.

I have been checked in Spain, France, Germany, Portugal (never any infraction, just random) and there has never been any mention.

So while I may get one for future trips, what the heck am I supposed to do now here in France?

I suspect if you check with 100 Fodorites renting cars in Europe and yes also Italy, you will not find even half that have the doc.

So I am just raising the issue for those that are not aware. Rouss

Reisender

In November last year we picked up our car at Hertz in Venice. The office did not ask about or even mention the IDL. I had one, as did my wife since we knew they were required. Since we did not happen to get stopped by the police anywhere in Italy I do not know if they would have asked for it or not. I would say get one it is only $15 and good for a year.

bfrac

We rented a car from autoeurope and picked it up at P. Roma in Venice and were asked to present our IDL.

hetismij

Rousillon the IDP is required for all non EU drivers licneces. EU drivers licences follow the same pattern so even the thickest plod can work it out.

TuckH

Try this - it's an on-line AAA application that you can fill out and send to an address in the country you're now in.

http://tinyurl.com/2jt3lu

BTW, the "License" and "Permit" are one and the same thing. It's merely a translation of your home license.

LarryJ

We all know that the only purpose of the IDL is as a translation tool and I can understand the need for that. What I don't understand is why the license must be renewed each year. Languages don't change year to year.

Larry J

Zerlina

Since roussillon says his passport is in English and French, I suspect he is Canadian and has to get his IDL from the CAA...

http://www.caa.ca/travel/travel-permits-e.cfm

roussillon, The IDL (or IDP) is not a question of translation only. In Europe, driving licenses are issued by countries. In the US, they are issued by states, and in Canada by provinces. European countries want a *national* document. The US have authorized the AAA to issue IDLs; Canada has authorized the CAA.

StCirq

This is not news, roussillon. It's been a requirement in Italy for decades. It's also been discussed ad nauseum here on Fodor's.

Whether or not anyone ever mentioned it to you or asked you to produce it is irrelevant. Car rental agencies normally don't ask for it. I'm surprised it's even in the confirmation email, but I'm guessing that's because Italian police have stepped up efforts to check for it.

Heimdall

I was stopped for illegal passing in Italy back in the 70s, had an IDP, but stupidly didn't realize that's what the policeman was asking for. When he couldn't get through to me, he said "Mille lira! Mille lira!" I knew what that meant, so handed him a thousand lira note, he gave me a receipt, and I was on my way. In those days the exchange rate was about $1 = 600 lira, so the fine cost me $1.67. How times have changed!

roussillon

These are all good comments for people reading. Thanks.

(Actually, I actually have a US license and a US passport and a British dependent territory license....)

But this is all about the folly of a $15 annual fee....for something which has a minimal value for translation and nothing more.

Thanks to TuckH for the form. I will try it. But I assure you that if I put a bogus photocopy of a US license along with the application, they will approve and issue the IDL no problem. They DO NOT check the databases of the 50 states...so again, it is just a silly vestige.

I think LarryJ has got it in one...

Just raised this so that all are aware. Arriderci, Rouss!

roussillon

Volevo dire "arrivederci"...