I've gotten one in the past; but, do I really need one in Italy?

You don't NEED one if you don't get caught by the police without one. But then you don't NEED any insurance either if you don't have an accident. The last I knew it was a law in Italy. Isn't it still?

1) It isn't a "license" - it is an International Driver's Permit and is a translation of your own license

2) It is a legal requirement in Italy. The rental agency probably won't ask for it - but if you want to drive legally you'd better have one.

3) They only cost $15, so why not??

They only cost $15 and are easy to get at your local AAA. Why take a risk of being stopped without one?

Attempting to circumvent local laws is a travel mistake. Traffic police need to know that you are a licensed driver. Home state licenses are not easily understood or accepted. The IDP certifies your driving ability. And in another sense it protects you from un-licensed drivers.

Assuming you are American, yes, it's a legal requirement:
http://

italy.usembassy.gov/acs/general-driving

.asp

Is it a logical requirement that one need to buy an IDP every year even when one's own driver's license may not have expired since one got the last IDP? In my view, no, since no information on the source document has changed. An IDP should logically expire only when the original license does - especially since the police will ask to see the source document (the actual driver's license) as well.

Is it a logical requirement given that other countries require it only if the source license is printed in an alphabet different from that of the host country? In my view, no. Formats of licenses vary, but not so much as to make them the Dead Sea Scrolls of police work. The Italan police are presumably capable of understanding the Italian legal system and enforcing it - by which comparison it ought to be a cake walk for them to be able to find the date of birth and the expiry date on a license from just about anywhere.

Is it a reasonable expense? In my view 'Necessary' does not equate to 'Reasonable'. It's necessary if you want a good hedge on the risk of being fined for being without one, but that doesn't make it reasonable for the Italian government/police to impose the requirement for one on citizens from countries using the same alphabet. Especially when they're going to ask to see the source document anyway.

But...they'll win any argument, if it comes to the punch. As to whether you will get stopped by the cops - well, nobody generally ever plans on that, now do they!

In 1978 I showed my IDP to the policeman in Sweden and he didn't want this paper. He wanted to see a "real" drivers license.

Again, I tried to use my IDP in Zurich, trying to rent my Hertz car and they didn't want this neither. They want a "real" drivers license. Since I've lived outside of North America and I never bought another IDP. I've rented in every western European country and never had a problem. I did have some police who stopped and asked for money (Swiss police want money, honey)but nobody asked for the IDP.

My other co-workers insisted that I needed to rent a car in Korea but the agent signed me up and gave me the keys. I have been stopped by the Korean police is various alcohol checks and they didn't want any IDP. In Taiwan the Americans said I cannot rent a car without this IDP but again, it's wrong. Not only did them rent the car but gave me a discount.

So, I guess there are different points of thought whether we need a IDP or not.

Blackduff

The answers, as ever, are:
1* Yes
2* No
3* Maybe
4* Why bother?
5* You might as well

hmmmm.....tried the gov. link but it "no longer exisits"

-I was just curious too...I do know you are encouraged to get one...no idea what the legality is...not a big deal to get, so not a huge problem...but....

it is interesting to note that I do rent cars in Italy ALL the time...hold a US DL...NO RENTAL agency has ever wanted to see it (only my "real" DL)...and I have also been stopped by the police (random checks) MANY times...and they have also NOT wanted to look at it and had me put it away...they only wanted to see my "real" DL and passport. I just thought it odd that they DIDN'T want to see it at all (and, BTW, these checks were way in So.Italy and not a word of English was spoken by any of the police)

Still think it's a good "just in case" thing to have...but I've just never (luckily) needed it!

It takes 30 minutes and $15 to get one at AAA. That's worth the avoidance of a possible future hassle to me. (I totally agree that the one year expiration date on them is ridiculous.)

Hi P,

An IDP is required by law in Italy.

It is highly unlikely that anyone will want to see it.

However, you need only one hot dog cop to ruin your vacation by taking you to the local constabulary because you don't have it.

The rental agency asked to see ours. Would they give us the car without it? I don't know. As Ira says, it's a legal requirement in Italy. Someone else said the same thing on an earlier discussion on this forum. Get one. It's fast and easy. Better safe than sorry.

blackduff, you have a total misunderstanding of what an IDP is. It was never intended to replace a "real" driver's license. In fact, it is made clear right on it that it MUST be accompanied by your actual driver's license. It is essentially a translation of that "real" license. And a car rental agency or even a policeman won't except it instead of a "real" driver's license. In fact there is no reason to ever suspect that a car rental agency would require you to have one -- it is the police wanting one in the event you are stopped in a country that requires one by law. If you are stopped in a country where it is a LAW to have an IDP to accompany your "real" license, then you need to have one or face the consequences. When you had one, you should have taken the time to actually read it so you would have understood what it is -- certainly not some permit to allow you to rent a car.

Search this forum carefully. I remember, some people said that they did get stopped by the police in ITALY, specifically, and the police asked to see their IDP, as well as their real license, I guess.

Has anyone EVER been fined for not having the IDLicense?

Do folks living say in Germany need an Int'l License to drive in Italy? I would think so but i doubt if the do for some reason.

anyone ever been fined or suffered any penalties for not having this IDL?

Well technically, it's not a translation of your driver's license. It has 1 thing translated- what type vehicle you are licensed to drive in the US. Everything else is in English.

*Begin Rant*
I spent 2 days at the AAA office trying to get one of these waste of money items. My photos were 1.8 x 1.8 and they wanted 2 x 2 size photos exactly- so I had to have them redone. And I had to deal with some smarmy, thinks-he's-so-cool-cause-he's-in-charge 20 yr old.

When I got the IDP, I couldn't believe how silly it was. It's just a pre-printed paper booklet. The first page has 5 columns in English that have the different types of vehicles people can be licensed to drive (truck, RV, motorcycle, passenger car, etc.). The rest of pages in the booklet are the English page translated into 11 languages. AAA just puts a stamp next to the column you are licensed for in the US.

The photo is sticky taped to the back (no laminate, or anything). I could switch the photo out if I wanted! Plus my 1.8 x 1.8 photo would have worked just fine! Your name, bday, city are written in English.


It's not a legal doc and you still have to show your US license.

Yes, I know you have to have one in some countries which is why we got it, but it struck me as such a waste of money and time. AAA is making money on it, but that's it.

*End Rant* Can you tell I'm still mad

I'll still like to hear from anyone who was ever fined or reprimanded for nothing having the IDP - i too think this could be a AAA plot. and you can get IDPs in Europe at local auto clubs i think.

PalenQ, there have been posts here from people who have been stopped, reprimanded, and yes -- fined -- for not having an IDP in Italy. You might want to do a search -- if that is working these days, it seems it often isn't.

>...i too think this could be a AAA plot....

Oh, Lord.

Why not Google "International Driver's Permit" and discover why it is not?

<<< Do folks living say in Germany need an Int'l License to drive in Italy? I would think so but i doubt if the do for some reason. >>>

No they don't because all driving licences issued by EU countries are recognised by all the other EU countries, so the need for an IDP if you HOLD a German licence doesn't come up.

If you are LIVING in Germany but don't have a licence issued by an EU country then you will need an IDP to LEGALLY drive in Italy