I read an article in my Sunday paper about the importance of having an International Driver's license in Italy. I have also read that they are not necessary. I have never needed one. Has anyone out there ever actually needed one in Italy?

Hi Bob <BR>There was a previous thread on this issue. Try doing a search here on drivers license. Good luck. <BR>

<BR>also see "2 Quick Questions" below <BR>

at AAA we are told that you DO need an international licence. if there is an accident, you'll at least be covered from the harrasment,but i do understand that an internatinal licence is expensive, Any one know how much? I can find out Wednesday 8/25/99, if you want me too.

I think they are $10 US. <BR>

They are $10 if you are a AAA member; it may be slightly more if you are not. <BR> <BR>Two ocassions we used them; in Spain when we were asked for our documents during a routine stop/check. The Spanish police seemed to be familiar with the document (besides the fact that it had the info translated to Spanish along with 4-5 other languages). In Italy a policeman explained to us that if we get stopped and the police see the need to take your license away, they'll take the IDP instead of your US license. In France we drove the wrong dircetion down a road for probably 50 feet and when we got stopped by he police, we handed the IDP. Apparently all the info he needed he got from the IDP (translated to French) beause no questions were asked and he just let us go. <BR> <BR>This last May in Spain we had it; didn't used it. Is a toss up.

In Italy it is required by law. If you don't have one and you get caught in a traffic volation or document control you may be asked to go to the police station till things get cleared (your driver's license data gets translated). Of course, you may be able to talk yourself out of it if you know how to speak Italian. In Greece, last year, Auto Europe required it to rent a car (in Athens Auto Europe is a car rental company, not just the middle man). I got caught twice in Italy without one, and I had no problems talking myself out of it (my driver's license is in Portuguese). Every single time I had one I was never asked ... Murphy's law <BR> <BR>The IDP is really a ripoff because as a translation it should have the same expiration date as the original. The one year validity doesn't make sense. At $10 in the US this is not a big deal. Here in Brazil, though, it costs $80!!! As a consequence I have long given up getting a new one every year. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

I have questions here, having never bought an IDP: who actually issues them? Your government? The United Nations? Frankie the Passport Guy? How 'official' is it? Would you go to jail for forgeing one? It's illegal to fake a driver's license, or a passport, or a check, etc., but who would prosecute you if you took an old IDP and erased the old date and typed in a new date? <BR>I'm not into illegal things, but this seems to be a money-making proposition for somebody....

Just dug out an old (1990) IDL. The permit is valid for only one year and is written in nine languages (English, Spanish, Hebrew?, Chinese?, Italian, German, Arabic?, Swedish? and French. It says "your valid U.S. driver's license must accompany the IDP at all times". It looks like a forger could change the date, but why take the chance. We have, fortunately, never needed our IDL's and we no longer get them. My husband usually carries his old IDL with him along with his U.S. license.

What agency issues the IDP?? Why would it be $10 through AAA, but $80 in Brazil? What makes it 'official', especially if AAA sells them?

According to my old IDL:Convention on International ROad Traffic of 19 September 1949 (United Nations). It lists over 125 countries which may or may not be a part of that Convention. "It is understood that this permit shall in no way affect the obligation of the holder to conform strictly to the laws and regulations relating to residence or to the exercise of a profession which are in force in each country through which he travels." <BR> <BR>It goes on to list particulars of the Driver ( Surname, other names, Place of birth, date of birth, permanent address), vehicles for which the permit is valid, and exclusions. <BR> <BR>The only "official" looking seal is AAA's logo, and each IDL has a number, and there are various places stamped with "AAA" including the photo. <BR> <BR>

Once upon a time, Elvira, countries decided to have driver's licenses translated in several languages so that one piece of paper would be good as a translation tool universally. It was decided that such a service would be made by the Automobile Clubs around the world for a fee. A convention of the most powerful Automobile Clubs decided they were in and the rest out (normally there's one issuer in each country; here in Brazil there are 2, with similar but different fees). The one year validity ripoff serves just to keep some cheap cash flowing into these clubs. The document itself has no official status whatsoever. In other words, nobody can sue you if you tamper with YOUR piece of paper. <BR> Once the Italian Consulate here in Brazil stated that a translation was required, I asked them if they would do an official translation of my DL ... surprised, they answered with another question: why wouldn't I get one at the Automobile Club? To make a long story short, I do have an official translation of my DL to Italian ... and this document is good till it expires! <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

For Val.

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To the top for Paige.

We didn't need one to hire a car or motorbike as recently as 3 weeks ago in Italy. We also got pulled over by the police for a random check and there was no problem whatsoever.

In this month's Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine, they suggest joining AAA as a cost effective thing to do. However they add: "If AAA did not persist in selling so-called International Driver's Permits for countries in Western Europe and the Caribbean where they simply aren't needed, we'd be even more enthusiastic about AAA". I've driven throughout Europe myself over the past 20 years and have NEVER needed one.

Doug: before our trip to Spain last year, I read a lot of guidebooks. Most indicated that you don't really need an international driver's license in Spain unless/until you have an accident. THEN you need one. What's your opinion? Has anyone else wished they had one or found they didn't need it?

To the top for Maureen.