travelon98

I am unclear as to the necessity of an International Drivers License for Sicily. With a valid US license I would not normally bother for Italy and many other places.
Has anyone had experience in this matter? Is it a "legal" requirement to have one or is it just a matter of choice/convenience in case one has to deal with a situation?

massimop

All of Italy requires that you carry a translation of your US state-issued driver's license, and there is no exemption for the region of Sicily. Italian police can't be expected to recognize the validity of 50 different kinds of licenses. The simplest way to get a certified translation of your license is to get an International Driver's Permit from AAA.

I was flagged down by police while driving in rural Sardegna by local police who were training a new officer. I was asked to produce all documents required to drive legally in Italy: my passport, my valid state driver's license and a certified translation of that license. Perhaps the local police would have been delighted to give their new rookie a lesson in what to do with a foreigner who is breaking the law. Never found out.

StCirq

It's either a legal requirement or it's not. It's a legal requirement in Italy (whether you might bother or not), so I might presume it's one for Sicily, but the only way to know is to check the official website of the embassy. If it's a legal requirement and you don't have it and you get stopped by the police or are in an accident, bad stuff can ensue.

And it's not a license, it's a permit (IDP). You can substitute an officially sanctioned translation of your regulaar driver's license, as that is all it amounts to, but that would cost you more than the IDP.

hetismij2

http://www.autoeurope.com/go/interna...ense-in-italy/

It is a permit, not a licence. You can get it fro your local automobile association You don't have to be a member to get one.

bilboburgler

It let's the poor Italian cop understand what your license means in his language. If he needs to read it he will also need to enter loads of stuff in his computer and he wants it to be right and easy to do.

So, not unreasonable to help him.

And it's the law.

massimop

Sicily is in Italy. If you know something is a law in Italy, you don't need to check with the embassy to find out if it's the law in Sicily. That's as absurd as calling Washington DC to find out if you need a Social Security number to get Social Security in Hawaii.

janisj

>>With a valid US license I would not normally bother for Italy and many other places. <<

IDP's are not required in a lot of countries. They ARE required in Italy -- so you actually should 'bother'. Now, most times it won't be an issue, rental agencies don't ask to see it. But it is a legal requirement in Italy so if you are stopped, and if the authorities ask to see it, and if you don't have one . . . there can be repercussions like your insurance is voided. Not good, especially if the reason you are asked for it is because you damaged the car.

Stooooopid to save $15 just because one doesn't want to 'bother'.

Mimar

You need to bring your license as well as the IDP, which is only a translation, not the document itself.

I hear some car rental companies in Italy are asking for the IDP now.

sundriedtopepo

Janisj where I live BCAA charges in the neighborhood of $75 but I agree it is a wise expenditure.

jamikins

sundreidtopepo - it states on BCAA's website that the cost is $25 (Canadian dollars).

IDP requirements
Applicant must be at least 18 years of age
Photocopy (front and back) of a valid Canadian driver's license
Two passport type photos (available at any BCAA Service Location)
Pay the $25 fee

https://www.bcaa.com/trip-planning/i...driving-permit

janisj

Oh -- yes -- I should have clarified the $15 is at AAA in the US . . . but now I notice they have raised that to $20.

sundriedtopepo

Jamikins well I wonder why we paid so much. I'll have to look into that...

Elizabeth_S

And we have been asked by a rental car company for our IDP (I think it was Sixt)

sundriedtopepo

So, correct amount we paid $79.12 cdn for 2 IDP's but that included the passport photo which was taken at BCAA, and tax. That was 3 years ago.

Still, I think that is a significant enough amount that I wouldn't buy an IDP IF it wasn't necessary.

janisj

>>Still, I think that is a significant enough amount that I wouldn't buy an IDP IF it wasn't necessary.<<

But it IS necessary for Italy, which is where the OP is going.

dotheboyshall

It's legally required, it costs pennies, why would you run the risk of encountering a police officer who insists on enforcing the law?

Without an IDP you won't be driving legally in Italy. This could have significant effects if the merda encounters the air conditioning.

sundriedtopepo

janisj Yes, that is undisputed, glad the OP could get that cleared up.

kja

If the cost of a passport photo taken at the local AAA / BCAA office seems prohibitive, my advice would be to look for a different option for the photo.