kimberlina01

International Drivers License - Do I need one for Italy ??
Does anyone know for sure.

Intrepid1

You may be better served by getting an International Drivers PERMIT but cannot say for certain that either one is absolutely required in Italy but am sure others will have that information.

ira

Hi K,

You won't need an IDP until someone asks you for it.

See http://www.aaasouth.com/travel_drivers.asp#idp
for how to get one.

Patrick

And I hope you're reading ira's comment correctly. It is so true. An IDP (Permit, not license) is REQUIRED of foreign drivers in Italy. Ignore people who say they've driven there and never needed it. Well, duh? Perhaps they never NEEDED any insurance there either if they didn't have an accident. Or perhaps they didn't NEED to fasten their seat belts or stop at traffic lights if no one caught them. Same thing.

rjs

International Drivers License - Do I need one for Italy ??
Does anyone know for sure.


I'm leaving for Italy next month and did get an International Driving Permit. From everything I've read, it is required in Italy. Doesn't take long to get it. Go to a AAA office (or you can mail the form, etc.). It's $10 USD for the permit and $10 USD for the pictures needed to go with the permit. Better safe, than sorry.

kimberlina01

thanx guys.
i wanted to get one but my brother/traveling companion has been lazy about gettin one. he will be the driver on our trip.
we only have a month left.
i emailed him the www today.
now i can tell him we DO really NEED one.

Intrepid1

No, ...tell him HE needs one!!!

Steve_James

My info is that a driver a would only need an International Driver's Permit if visiting a country that doesn't recognise a driver's license from the United States (- or renting a car from a company that requires one).

Does Italy not recognise an American license??

I have never been asked for an IDP - my UK license has always been sufficient both for car hire firms and for the police/ carabinieri.

Steve

rjs

My understanding of the IDP is that it is a translation of a individual's drivers license, i.e., English to Italian, not the fact that it isn't recognized.

StCirq

Whether or not anyone has ever asked you for an IDP is completely irrelevant, as is the issue of whether Italy recognizes a US license. The point is that Italian law requires you to have an official translation of your US license. An IDP satisfies that requirement. You could also hire a professional translator and get the translation notarized, but that would cost you five times as much as the IDP.

Anonymous

As has been explained above, the IDP is essentially a translation, so (1) it's not a license and does not function in lieu of one, it must be accompanied by the official, government-issued license and (2) it wouldn't be recognized in a country that didn't recognize the original license.

Italy is one of few European nations that does require it. IIRC, most of the others are in eastern Europe. Your travel agent and car-rental agency probably won't mention it, but it's ultimately your responsibilty to know that it's required.

CheBird

We didn't have IDP's when my husband was pulled over on the A1 on the way to Rome from Tuscany. The police looked at his American license and his passport and sent us on our way. And it was an obvious traffic violation that I personally felt he should have been ticketed for!

We plan on getting IDP's for our trip this fall. We were lucky the first time.

Patrick

I'm still amused when people say "we never needed one", even though it IS REQUIRED by law.

Here are some similar things traveler's might want to skip.

Sick Susie is subject to severe asthma attacks, but in five trips she hasn't NEEDED her medication, so there's really no point in taking it.

Speedy Sam loves to run through traffic lights and ignore speed limits. He's been doing it for years and has never been caught yet. So he doesn't NEED to slow down when he drives.

Frugal Fred hates paying for insurance when he doesn't need it. He's been paying for health insurance for seven years and hasn't NEEDED it once yet, so he's decided not to get any in the future and has discontinued paying for it. After all if he hasn't NEEDED it in the past, why should he NEED it in the future?

Devious Denny used to obey traffic laws, but he was stopped by the police in Florence for going the wrong way on a one way street and they just warned him, so now he knows there's no reason to be pay attentin to street signs because he doesn't NEED to.

Intrepid1

Why, St. Cirq, if I didn't know better I'd actually say you were LECTURING us!!!!

An IDP costs about $10 to get at an AAA office (that may be the members rate) and some of those offices can also take the picture that is required for it, too.

Suppose you could supply your own photo cheaper.

If it is easy enough for you to obtain an IDP I would certainly do so and then you can concentrat on more important questions about your upcoming trip.

sprin2

The Washington Post had a good article on this Jan. 23, 2005 in their travel section. They state an IDP is required for Italy and go on to explain:

"The requirement has technically been in effect since last summer, but rental car companies are "easing into this new law," so some may require an IDP and some won't, said Cosmo Frasca of the Italian Government Tourist Board. However, he recommends that Americans not count on lax enforcement since the requirement is "pretty much mandatory" for all foreigners except those from EU countries.

Only two organizations are authorized by the U.S. State Department to issue an IDP: AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (through the National Automobile Club)."