Found this on www.slowtrav.com

You must have an International Driver's Permit to rent a car in Italy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2005Jan21.html

You can get them for $10 at the AAA.
http://www.aaasouth.com/travel_drivers.asp#idp

I'm going to Italy in March and will definately get one, better safe than sorry for $10 and a little hastle. I read the article and it seems like the rental car company could deny you if they want, it is a new law.

Thanks for the heads up, we'll need to get one before May.
Anyone know about Germany?



I apologize if this posts twice, I am having computer issues this morning!

I know they wouldn't give me the car without an IDL in Austria.

I just bought my IDP yesterday. It was $26 from AAA (the price if you are a member of AAA). The permit is $10 but you have to have a passport photo as well.

One other point I learned, the permit is only good for one year. So AAA suggested you make the effective date, a few days before you will actually rent the car.

areinert, did AAA take the picture there? Do you know if you could bring your own passport photo for the purpose? Thanks.

You can provide your own photos.

I provided my own photos and the price was $10 as a AAA member. That was in June, the price may have changed.

As the others mentioned, if you bring your own picture it is $10, if you have them take the picture, its $26 for the permit and picture

The price at AAA is $10 even if you are not a member. I got one last month and I am not a AAA member.

Can someone please tell me how I should go about getting one? We leave for Germany February 10th and my husband will be driving our rental car.

Texas, you can check with AAA, but I don't think you need one for Germany. There are only a couple of countries that require it, Italy and Austria being two of them.

And I'm quite sure it's not a new law. I think it's been true forever, at least 25 years or so.

TexasAggie. I believe you can take two passport sized photos(or not) to a AAA office and they will fill out the form and process it on the spot. You also need your valid driver's license.
They will take the photos for you if you don't have them.
Are you wanting to have one made for your husband? You may have to check if they will do that. When my husband and I had them made, we both went to AAA.
But you will not need one if you intend not to drive.

Texas, here's how it worked for me. Go to the AAA office, they required that the person who wants the permit be present and have a valid state drivers license. You give them the license and the pictures or have pictures taken. They fill our the permit and attach the pictures while you wait.

The permit is a paper document that folds open, not a plastic license that comes in the mail. It took about 5 minutes to get mine done.

Thanks for the tips everyone.
As we are both tax accountants, I'm not sure we will be able to get one before our trip to Germany in a couple of weeks so I am relieved that we do not have to have one there. We don't plan to drive into Austria on that trip.
We will definitely get one before our trip back to Italy this May though!!

Thanks again. I am leaving a big yellow sticky note on my travle binder to go take care of this!

Wait a minute... while the rental car agency in Germany or elsewhere in Europe may not request an IDP, for insurance purposes in the event of an accident, or in the event you are stopped by law enforcement, it is still advisable that you have one.

Even though it is tax season and you are very busy, it is best to avoid any possibility of trouble when you get to Germany, so go ahead and get one!

--Marv

I just got one at AAA this week; paid $10 for the permit and only $8 for the two photos.

I looked on the AAA website and it said we could mail the completed form, copy of Driver's License, 2 passport photos, and $10 and conduct the process through the mail.

"Before you travel the world, travel to any AAA office for your International Driving Permit. Bring your valid U.S. driver's license, $10, and two ORIGINAL passport-type photos** (also available at AAA offices). You may also wish to fill out our International Driving Permit application in advance. Simply print out the application, fill in the information requested and bring it with you to the AAA office nearest you. If you prefer to secure your International Driving Permit through the mail, enclose your completed application form, two ORIGINAL passport-type photos, a $10 permit fee and a photocopy of your driver's license and mail them to the AAA office nearest you.
NOTE: If you are currently overseas you can mail your completed application to the following office and address: AAA/IDP
1000 AAA Dr.
Heathrow, FL
32746
Attn: Mailstop #28

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I wanted to post in case other people come across this thread who are as time-crunched as we are!!

St Cirq, I too am certain way back in the 70's Italy required an IDP. Or if not the government at least the rental car companies. I remember every time we rented a car my husband showed them his IDP. But then again maybe they only asked him to and it wasn't mandatory.