Renting a car in Italy
Dec 14th, 2005, 01:42 PM
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Renting a car in Italy
Hi there,
My wife and I will be traveling to Florence in February for our honeymoon. We're thinking about renting a car so we can stay about half of our trip in the countryside. The other half we know we'll be in Florence and won't bother with a car.
I have two questions:
1) What's legally involved in renting a car in Italy with a U.S. drivers license.
2) Will driving in Italy be especially difficult for one who's used to driving both in the city and the country in the U.S.? Any significantly different road rules?
Thanks a lot - Ben Skolnik
My wife and I will be traveling to Florence in February for our honeymoon. We're thinking about renting a car so we can stay about half of our trip in the countryside. The other half we know we'll be in Florence and won't bother with a car.
I have two questions:
1) What's legally involved in renting a car in Italy with a U.S. drivers license.
2) Will driving in Italy be especially difficult for one who's used to driving both in the city and the country in the U.S.? Any significantly different road rules?
Thanks a lot - Ben Skolnik
Dec 14th, 2005, 02:20 PM
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Q1 - - not much - - but you will need to get an IDP - - International Driver's Permit - - it's basically just a translation/accompaniment to your own license. You can get one from AAA in under 15 minutes.
Different customs: the main difference is "respect for the fast lane". Don't get in it and dawdle. Get in, to pass, then get back out to the right hand lane.
Best wishes,
Rex
Different customs: the main difference is "respect for the fast lane". Don't get in it and dawdle. Get in, to pass, then get back out to the right hand lane.
Best wishes,
Rex
Dec 14th, 2005, 02:30 PM
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Hello Ben, first of all congratulations on your upcoming honeymoon in Italy!
As far as driving in Italy I think it depends on the driver. My husband loved driving in Italy, in the large cities and in the countryside. But others do not..it sounds from what you have said that you will be just fine with driving in Italy.
Regarding legal requirements. It is the law in Italy that you must have an International Drivers Permit. You can obtain this through your nearest AAA office. You do NOT have to be a member of AAA to get this permit. I believe the cost is $10.00 and since you have to have passport type photos for this permit they will take these photos also..believe they charge an additional $10.00 for the photos.
You will want to take your US Drivers License with you to Italy as well as the International Drivers Permit. The IDP translates your state drivers license into about 10 different languages including Italian.
Some people do drive in Italy without the IDP. But the IDP is rather like insurance. You don't need it until you need it! If you are stopped by any type of Italian policeman be it for any reason they require you show them this permit. If you do not have one their can be a large fine. Not worth it in that it is so easy to get the IDP for such a small amount of money. It is good for one year, so you could obtain the IDP after the holidays.
Italians are very competant drivers but they do drive fast. The far left lane is for passing, do not continue to continue driving in the far left lane. On the autostradas (freeways) there will be tolls. You take a ticket when you go on the autostrada and then pay when you leave the autostrada. Do not lose the ticket you first collect when you enter the autostrada.
In the country if you want to go slower then the Italians do just pull over where you can and let them go by you.
I am sure some others here will give you some additional information. You do know that Italians drive on the right, the same as we do in the US?
And you are correct, you will not want to bother with a car in Florence.
Have a beautiful honeymoon.
As far as driving in Italy I think it depends on the driver. My husband loved driving in Italy, in the large cities and in the countryside. But others do not..it sounds from what you have said that you will be just fine with driving in Italy.
Regarding legal requirements. It is the law in Italy that you must have an International Drivers Permit. You can obtain this through your nearest AAA office. You do NOT have to be a member of AAA to get this permit. I believe the cost is $10.00 and since you have to have passport type photos for this permit they will take these photos also..believe they charge an additional $10.00 for the photos.
You will want to take your US Drivers License with you to Italy as well as the International Drivers Permit. The IDP translates your state drivers license into about 10 different languages including Italian.
Some people do drive in Italy without the IDP. But the IDP is rather like insurance. You don't need it until you need it! If you are stopped by any type of Italian policeman be it for any reason they require you show them this permit. If you do not have one their can be a large fine. Not worth it in that it is so easy to get the IDP for such a small amount of money. It is good for one year, so you could obtain the IDP after the holidays.
Italians are very competant drivers but they do drive fast. The far left lane is for passing, do not continue to continue driving in the far left lane. On the autostradas (freeways) there will be tolls. You take a ticket when you go on the autostrada and then pay when you leave the autostrada. Do not lose the ticket you first collect when you enter the autostrada.
In the country if you want to go slower then the Italians do just pull over where you can and let them go by you.
I am sure some others here will give you some additional information. You do know that Italians drive on the right, the same as we do in the US?
And you are correct, you will not want to bother with a car in Florence.
Have a beautiful honeymoon.
Dec 14th, 2005, 03:38 PM
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Everyones comments are right on. We did 10 days in Sicily and I liked driving the "italian way. There is a good primer at http://www.initaly.com/travel/itdrive.htm
There is lots of useful infomration on this site.
Here are their Marcus' 10 rules:
Driving in Italy was an experience in itself. I leave you with my own 10 tips for surviving the challenge, based on our actual experience:
1) To determine the correct speed on the highway, take the posted limit, divide by two and add to the original. Thus 100kph becomes 150, 120 becomes 180 etc. If you drive 130, stay in the slow lane
2) The centre line is for decorative purposes only
3) Motor scooters are designed to avoid traffic. There are hundreds of them, so expect them on your left, on your right and on the sidewalk if traffic is slow enough
4) In Italy, 99 out of 100 "roundabouts" have traffic going one way (counterclockwise). The other 1 will have two concentric circles of traffic. In the latter case, it is helpful to have someone in the passenger seat who can yell stop so that you avoid killing a motorcyclist coming in the opposite direction!
5) In Florence, all streets are one way and none are marked. Therefore, allow at least two hours to travel 2kms from the edge of town to the Uffizi museum at the centre.
6) An inability to read Italian will afford you access to restricted roads and pedestrian areas of town, much to the surprise of thousands of other tourists and the police. You may even find yourself on the plaza right in front of the Uffizi!
7) Be prepared to drive on the shoulder to avoid on-coming traffic in your lane around blind corners. Only there aren't many paved shoulders in Italy.
8) Highway signs will only post the name of your destination once and then will assume you know which way to go after that. In some cases they may give you clues by listing places you do not want to go.
9) Highways have many "Y" intersections and you need to know which way to go. But there is no advanced warning as to which way. Therefore be prepared to stop dead in front of the "Y" until you know where you are going and everyone has stopped honking at you.
10) At the beginning of steep one-way country roads (such as the one to our "villa"
, pray that you don't meet anyone coming down the other way. If you do, be prepared to back up, while not looking down the cliff side, to the nearest pull-out, while your passenger clutches the seat in fear.
If you remember these 10 easy points, then you too can drive in Italy.
There is lots of useful infomration on this site.
Here are their Marcus' 10 rules:
Driving in Italy was an experience in itself. I leave you with my own 10 tips for surviving the challenge, based on our actual experience:
1) To determine the correct speed on the highway, take the posted limit, divide by two and add to the original. Thus 100kph becomes 150, 120 becomes 180 etc. If you drive 130, stay in the slow lane
2) The centre line is for decorative purposes only
3) Motor scooters are designed to avoid traffic. There are hundreds of them, so expect them on your left, on your right and on the sidewalk if traffic is slow enough
4) In Italy, 99 out of 100 "roundabouts" have traffic going one way (counterclockwise). The other 1 will have two concentric circles of traffic. In the latter case, it is helpful to have someone in the passenger seat who can yell stop so that you avoid killing a motorcyclist coming in the opposite direction!
5) In Florence, all streets are one way and none are marked. Therefore, allow at least two hours to travel 2kms from the edge of town to the Uffizi museum at the centre.
6) An inability to read Italian will afford you access to restricted roads and pedestrian areas of town, much to the surprise of thousands of other tourists and the police. You may even find yourself on the plaza right in front of the Uffizi!
7) Be prepared to drive on the shoulder to avoid on-coming traffic in your lane around blind corners. Only there aren't many paved shoulders in Italy.
8) Highway signs will only post the name of your destination once and then will assume you know which way to go after that. In some cases they may give you clues by listing places you do not want to go.
9) Highways have many "Y" intersections and you need to know which way to go. But there is no advanced warning as to which way. Therefore be prepared to stop dead in front of the "Y" until you know where you are going and everyone has stopped honking at you.
10) At the beginning of steep one-way country roads (such as the one to our "villa"
, pray that you don't meet anyone coming down the other way. If you do, be prepared to back up, while not looking down the cliff side, to the nearest pull-out, while your passenger clutches the seat in fear. If you remember these 10 easy points, then you too can drive in Italy.
Dec 14th, 2005, 03:51 PM
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We'd heard scary stories about driving in Italy, but it turned out to be no big deal. A couple of times we had to approach driving with a sense of humor, but in general, it wasn't that different from driving anywhere else.
As other posters have mentioned, an International Driver's License is easy to get, but I have never had to show mine, and I have stopped getting them. That may be a mistake, though.
If you're not used to driving a standard transmission, be aware that automatics are considerably more expensive than cars with standard transmission.
As other posters have mentioned, an International Driver's License is easy to get, but I have never had to show mine, and I have stopped getting them. That may be a mistake, though.
If you're not used to driving a standard transmission, be aware that automatics are considerably more expensive than cars with standard transmission.
Dec 14th, 2005, 04:19 PM
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Congratulations! Ditto the above suggestions. We have rented a car in Tuscany the last couple of springs & will do so, again this May. Unlike Rex, it takes about 2 weeks for our international drivers permit to arrive as the local AAA office sends the application & pictures off to Houston to process, then they are mailed directly to me. I get 2 every year for myself and my husband. So...I guess it depends on where you live & your local AAA office but I can't imagine not taking one since it's the law and is very easy to obtain. Driving in the countryside is not the anxiety-ridden adventure we were first worried about. We don't drive in large Italian cities, however. The AAA info has signage info which I recommend studying up on, in advance. Happy travels!
Dec 14th, 2005, 05:10 PM
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I was about to add cost and renting informatioin for Ben. Renting in Italy is expensive. I have checked just about every site and, like a lot of others here, prefer autoeurope.com.
I like AutoEurope because there are no extras; the cost they show you is what you pay. You can get cheaper quotes but they may not include the insurance that is mandatory in Italy.
I like AutoEurope because there are no extras; the cost they show you is what you pay. You can get cheaper quotes but they may not include the insurance that is mandatory in Italy.
Dec 14th, 2005, 05:25 PM
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Driving in Tuscany is a great way to see the beautiful countryside. Don't be afraid of taking small roads and getting a bit lost. A map of the area is helpful.
You might want to familiarize yourself with European road signs like "no parking" and "pedestrians only/no vehicles", the latter is very helpful as there are many small lanes in towns and villages which will be closed to cars. A useful website is at http://www.ideamerge.com/motoeuropa/roadsigns
The main difference when driving in Europe is that at an intersection, unless noted by white triangle markings on the road, cars coming from the RIGHT have priority; even if you are on the main road, you have to give way to cars coming from the right. If there are white triangle markings, then cars on the street with the markings have to give way to cars on the street without the markings.
There is a very good walking guide to Tuscany published by Sunflower books, which includes suggestions for tours by car with short hikes. I find it useful and fun. Their website is http://www.sunflowerbooks.co.uk.
wonderbar8, for an idea of car rental prices, take a look at the sites below:
http://www.maiellano.com/bargain/3o.htm
http://www.autoeurope.com
hertz.com
http://www.kemwel.com/
Also cas is about US$7 a gallon currently.
You might want to familiarize yourself with European road signs like "no parking" and "pedestrians only/no vehicles", the latter is very helpful as there are many small lanes in towns and villages which will be closed to cars. A useful website is at http://www.ideamerge.com/motoeuropa/roadsigns
The main difference when driving in Europe is that at an intersection, unless noted by white triangle markings on the road, cars coming from the RIGHT have priority; even if you are on the main road, you have to give way to cars coming from the right. If there are white triangle markings, then cars on the street with the markings have to give way to cars on the street without the markings.
There is a very good walking guide to Tuscany published by Sunflower books, which includes suggestions for tours by car with short hikes. I find it useful and fun. Their website is http://www.sunflowerbooks.co.uk.
wonderbar8, for an idea of car rental prices, take a look at the sites below:
http://www.maiellano.com/bargain/3o.htm
http://www.autoeurope.com
hertz.com
http://www.kemwel.com/
Also cas is about US$7 a gallon currently.
Dec 15th, 2005, 04:22 AM
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Dec 15th, 2005, 08:51 PM
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All the comments are right on. The only thing I'll add is that all Italian rental agencies require mandatory insurance which is about as costly as the car. None of the surrounding countries have done this. So, on our upcoming trip in April we are flying in to Nice, France, renting our car there and driving into Italy. The French and Italian Rivieras are a gorgeous start to a honeymoon. The drive from Nice to Florence is only about 6 hours, so plan a day or two on the way, including the Cinque Terre. Spend a week in the countryside of Tuscany, a few days in Florence and drop your rental in Rome or Florence. You'll save a good bit and love every second. Congratulations.
Dec 15th, 2005, 09:16 PM
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Actually, I would recommend that you buy the collision damage waiver insurance. This is only the collision damage waiver, not anything to do with third party injury or damage which is or course always included in any rental. The waiver means you will not pay for any damage which you do to the car. You will find streets and especially parking spaces narrower than you are used to. It is nice to have the insurance and return a dented car with no worries. It is my understanding that the reason the rental agencies require it in Italy is that in their experiecne, most rental car drivers end up with dented cars, and they don't want to chase the renters for the damaage coverage, even if paid on a credit card. Theis tells you something about the frequency with which people who are unacostamed to driving in Europe have little fender benders.
When I first moved to Switzlerand, I rented a car for a month. The collision damage waiver was optional, but I took it, as I knew I was unfamiliar with the driving habits and roads. In one month of having the car I took off the left side mirror while parking, and dented the front fender and scraped both the right and left sides of the car pretty heavily. This was all attributable to the narrower parking spaces and to some of the narrower village lanes in the smaller towns, some of which are lined in stone fences. This is for a person who has been driving for 20 years without any accidents and without any insurance claims ever. I figure I did more than US$1,000 in damage to the car, so the collision damage waiver cost more than paid for itself. It was a pleasure to hand over the car and walk away with no further payments owing, which would not have been the case without the collision damage waiver. From then on, I have always paid for it when renting in Europe and here in Asia.
When I first moved to Switzlerand, I rented a car for a month. The collision damage waiver was optional, but I took it, as I knew I was unfamiliar with the driving habits and roads. In one month of having the car I took off the left side mirror while parking, and dented the front fender and scraped both the right and left sides of the car pretty heavily. This was all attributable to the narrower parking spaces and to some of the narrower village lanes in the smaller towns, some of which are lined in stone fences. This is for a person who has been driving for 20 years without any accidents and without any insurance claims ever. I figure I did more than US$1,000 in damage to the car, so the collision damage waiver cost more than paid for itself. It was a pleasure to hand over the car and walk away with no further payments owing, which would not have been the case without the collision damage waiver. From then on, I have always paid for it when renting in Europe and here in Asia.
Dec 16th, 2005, 08:31 AM
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all these comments are good; I particularly enjoyed yours, gfeibleman.
My brother spoke Italian pretty fluently but when we visited 6 years ago, we still had problems with some of the signage.
One time we stopped to ask a policeman in a booth directions, and he informed my brother that he had driven in a bus lane. He chose not to ticket him but said he needed a proper license (the AAA as mentioned above).
One thing my brother pointed out to me when we were walking as well as driving:
The Italian police often drive two-police per vehicle. In addition to the sirens you can tell how serious the police are about getting somewhere. If the passenger officer has the window down and is holding a red sign over the door, it is urgent. If he is waiving the sign in the air, they are definitely in a hurry. If he is sitting on the open window's and holding the sign above his head, they WILL NOT STOP.
My brother spoke Italian pretty fluently but when we visited 6 years ago, we still had problems with some of the signage.
One time we stopped to ask a policeman in a booth directions, and he informed my brother that he had driven in a bus lane. He chose not to ticket him but said he needed a proper license (the AAA as mentioned above).
One thing my brother pointed out to me when we were walking as well as driving:
The Italian police often drive two-police per vehicle. In addition to the sirens you can tell how serious the police are about getting somewhere. If the passenger officer has the window down and is holding a red sign over the door, it is urgent. If he is waiving the sign in the air, they are definitely in a hurry. If he is sitting on the open window's and holding the sign above his head, they WILL NOT STOP.
Dec 16th, 2005, 10:47 AM
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Ben, I hope this helps !
DRIVING IN ITALY & SOUTHERN EUROPE
Q. SHOULD WE DRIVE IN ITALY?
A. Of course you should if your driving skill & confidence would allow you to drive a rental car in Vermont, Colorado or California. But, be advised of these tips:
* Avoid driving in the major cities except for picking up or dropping cars
* Have good maps—study them in advance—and have a good navigator
* Stay in the right lane except when passing and use your rear view mirrors
Q. WHAT CAR SHOULD I GET AND WHERE DO I GET IT?
A. It is best to rent your car before you leave for Europe. The best source we have found is AUTOEUROPE [800-223-5555] who is a broker for several car vendors. They will quote you prices to include the variables that are often omitted by others, such as unlimited mileage, full mandatory insurance coverage, and VAT taxes. The best model will depend on your needs, but for best value we suggest you select a compact car with manual transmission. Automatics are available but will cost you about 30% more and may limit your model options & pick up locations.
Q. ARE ITALIAN DRIVERS AS CRAZY AS I HAVE HEARD?
A. Yes & no! They are certainly aggressive, but they are also more skilled than many USA drivers—both are a function of necessity. Italy is one of the most crowded countries in the world and the drivers have evolved these characteristics
* They are notorious tailgaters. If that bothers you, pull over and let them past.
* On the AUTOSTRADE they will drive fast, but will stay in the right lane except when passing and will use their blinkers when passing—you should too !
* They will often pass on 2-lane roads with traffic coming. Frankly, they expect you, and the oncoming car, to adjust to the shoulder and make 3 lanes of traffic.
OTHER ROAD TIPS FOR YOUR DRIVING SANITY:
1. Learn the meaning of the sign “ SENSO UNICO” and take heed [ONE WAY ].
2. Be sure to get your ticket when you enter the AUTOSTADA system & be prepared to pay the toll when you exit it [ rule of thumb—300 km=15 Euro]. You can use your credit card in the VIA lane at the toll both, or buy a debit VIACARD in advance.
3. Do NOT attempt to follow road numbers—that will frustrate you. But, do pay attention to the directional signs that point to your destination [ TO MONTALCINO]. And, be aware if that road leads eventually to a larger city [ ROMA—SIENA ETC.]
4. Unless you have a diesel car, you will want to fill the tank with benzina from the green pump. Most stations will pump gas for you and will take credit cards.
NOTE: As of 2005, an International Drivers Permit[IDP] is required in Italy.
You can obtain them from your local AAA office. You will need a valid US driver’s license, two passport photos, and $10. The photos can be taken at the AAA office.
DRIVING IN ITALY & SOUTHERN EUROPE
Q. SHOULD WE DRIVE IN ITALY?
A. Of course you should if your driving skill & confidence would allow you to drive a rental car in Vermont, Colorado or California. But, be advised of these tips:
* Avoid driving in the major cities except for picking up or dropping cars
* Have good maps—study them in advance—and have a good navigator
* Stay in the right lane except when passing and use your rear view mirrors
Q. WHAT CAR SHOULD I GET AND WHERE DO I GET IT?
A. It is best to rent your car before you leave for Europe. The best source we have found is AUTOEUROPE [800-223-5555] who is a broker for several car vendors. They will quote you prices to include the variables that are often omitted by others, such as unlimited mileage, full mandatory insurance coverage, and VAT taxes. The best model will depend on your needs, but for best value we suggest you select a compact car with manual transmission. Automatics are available but will cost you about 30% more and may limit your model options & pick up locations.
Q. ARE ITALIAN DRIVERS AS CRAZY AS I HAVE HEARD?
A. Yes & no! They are certainly aggressive, but they are also more skilled than many USA drivers—both are a function of necessity. Italy is one of the most crowded countries in the world and the drivers have evolved these characteristics
* They are notorious tailgaters. If that bothers you, pull over and let them past.
* On the AUTOSTRADE they will drive fast, but will stay in the right lane except when passing and will use their blinkers when passing—you should too !
* They will often pass on 2-lane roads with traffic coming. Frankly, they expect you, and the oncoming car, to adjust to the shoulder and make 3 lanes of traffic.
OTHER ROAD TIPS FOR YOUR DRIVING SANITY:
1. Learn the meaning of the sign “ SENSO UNICO” and take heed [ONE WAY ].
2. Be sure to get your ticket when you enter the AUTOSTADA system & be prepared to pay the toll when you exit it [ rule of thumb—300 km=15 Euro]. You can use your credit card in the VIA lane at the toll both, or buy a debit VIACARD in advance.
3. Do NOT attempt to follow road numbers—that will frustrate you. But, do pay attention to the directional signs that point to your destination [ TO MONTALCINO]. And, be aware if that road leads eventually to a larger city [ ROMA—SIENA ETC.]
4. Unless you have a diesel car, you will want to fill the tank with benzina from the green pump. Most stations will pump gas for you and will take credit cards.
NOTE: As of 2005, an International Drivers Permit[IDP] is required in Italy.
You can obtain them from your local AAA office. You will need a valid US driver’s license, two passport photos, and $10. The photos can be taken at the AAA office.
Dec 16th, 2005, 11:01 AM
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We found driving in Italy to be easy--especially compared to driving in UK. We picked up and returned our car in Florence. Driving out and later back into Florence was not exactly fun. We used Autoeuro and the rental place was very near the Arno which made it easier to exit Fl for Tuscany countryside. When we returned the car the guy hardly looked the car over for damages. He was in a huge rush and spoke no English. We assumed they were closing for the day. Wrong--they were simply closing for their usual two hour lunch. If we had arrived five minutes later I'm not sure where we would have parked the car for the next two hours!
Dec 16th, 2005, 11:26 AM
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This post has some excellent tips! Here are some additional pointers I have not seen posted yet:
1) if you drive in small country roads, don't enter a road with a sign that says: Senza Uscita (without exit, aka dead-end road)
2) For free parking, make sure you look at the sign to see the time limit. There is a little parking disc on your dashboard. You have to dial it to your time of arrival to "show" how long you have parked there.
3) Other useful words when trying to figure out if you can park there or not:
a) Feriale (symbol is with two crossed hammers): workdays, weekdays
b) Festivi: Sunday and holidays
Good luck! I love driving in Italy!
1) if you drive in small country roads, don't enter a road with a sign that says: Senza Uscita (without exit, aka dead-end road)
2) For free parking, make sure you look at the sign to see the time limit. There is a little parking disc on your dashboard. You have to dial it to your time of arrival to "show" how long you have parked there.
3) Other useful words when trying to figure out if you can park there or not:
a) Feriale (symbol is with two crossed hammers): workdays, weekdays
b) Festivi: Sunday and holidays
Good luck! I love driving in Italy!
Jan 4th, 2006, 12:56 PM
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Before purchasing insurance, contact your credit card issuers and see what's covered and what's not covered. I remember using a specific card only for the car rental during our last trip, because of the coverage provided. But the card issuer required us to waive certain coverages offered by the rental agency in order for the issuer's insurance coverage to be in effect, and we couldn't rent from one agency (Hertz?) because they wouldn't allow certain coverages to be waived...
As for driving, we've always found the Autostrade to be a breeze, especially compared I-95 and the other interstates we drive over here. Driving in the heart of the large cities is something to be avoided, even for those experienced with driving in large cities in the USA. (However, we've never had a problem driving to or from a train station to pick up or drop off a rental, but they tend to be on main arteries with easy access to the Autostrada.) And be sure to have good directions when looking for a remote hilltown. You can be driving on a small highway road, see the village at the top of some hillside, and have a handful of roads from which to guess which one gets you there.
As for driving, we've always found the Autostrade to be a breeze, especially compared I-95 and the other interstates we drive over here. Driving in the heart of the large cities is something to be avoided, even for those experienced with driving in large cities in the USA. (However, we've never had a problem driving to or from a train station to pick up or drop off a rental, but they tend to be on main arteries with easy access to the Autostrada.) And be sure to have good directions when looking for a remote hilltown. You can be driving on a small highway road, see the village at the top of some hillside, and have a handful of roads from which to guess which one gets you there.
Jan 4th, 2006, 01:52 PM
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Ben, don't blow off getting an IDP like we did the first time we went. My husband fits right in in Italy when he drives - aggressive, fast, no regard for other cars, etc. He got pulled over our first time there and was extremely lucky not to get a ticket with only his U.S. license and passport on hand. The second time we went I insisted he get an IDP (from AAA - $20 for non-members). Sure enough, we got pulled over again. Not sure if the IDP helped us get out of any tickets that time, but it sure was great peace of mind.
By the way, the rental car company never asked to see the IDP when giving us the car.
By the way, the rental car company never asked to see the IDP when giving us the car.
