Kerouac - we don't recall if there was any specification of what document(s).

Once in Trento (Italy) we were stopped for, what appeared to be, a routine traffic random check. The policeman asked for papers and we handed the rental agreement and the IDP. He knew some English and I took the opportunity to asked him about the need for IDP. He stated not only it was requirement for them to check for IDP when handed a rental agreement, but if there had been an actual violation that required taking the driver license away, they would take the IDP instead. If this crappy little document would save me the agravation(s) associated with a DMV visit, I am sooooo with it!!

We were stopped in the outskirts of Amsterdam for, what appeared to be, a routine traffic random check. The policeman asked for papers and we handed the rental agreement and the IDP. We were waved out of the line with no further questioning.

We were stopped by French traffic police after driving the wrong for a short distance on a street of Paris. Two (2) policemen asked for papers and we handed the rental agreement and the IDP. They examined and discussed between them the info on the IDP and then turned to us and stated "Be careful" and waved us away in disgust.

We were stopped in the outskirts of Seville for, what appeared to be, a routine traffic random check. Two (2) policemen asked for papers and we handed the rental agreement and the IDP. I know Spanish so I understood them discussing the info on the IDP and restating my husban'd address and other info in it. We were waved out of the line with no further questioning.

We were asked for an IDP when renting a car in Rome.

An IDP seems to have prevented some headaches for us. Given how simple is to get one (we get it for free as AAA Plus members at our AAA Auto Club) this is such a NO BRAINER.

Hate to revisit this old, old thread, but I'm trying to find someone who can tell me that they USED an OUTDATED IDP in Italy and had it rejected. We are currently in France for an extended stay, and are suddenly thinking of flying into Trieste (Italy) and renting a car for a two-week drive in Italy and Croatia.
We have our two IDPs, which expired earlier this year.

Does anybody out there have direct experience with actually showing a recently outdated IDP at a car rental counter and having it rejected and being unable to rent the car?

Or does anybody know anywhere in France where we can acquire an IDP in less than a week?

You don't need an IDP to hire a car in Italy. But you're driving illegally without one, unless you have a licence issued by an EU or EFTA country.

As far as I'm aware, IDPs may be issued only by authorised bodies in the country whose licence you have. I believe your only option is to fly to that country, or phone the relevant body and see if they'll courier you an IDP against your emailing them your current licence.

Outdated IDPs aren't, I understand, acceptable under Italian law. But I'd check if I were you.

That's not exactly true, because more and more rental companies are now requiring an IDP when renting a car. There was a recent thread on TripAdvisor, started by a woman who was complaining that the rental agency in Italy refused to rent them a car because they didn't have an IDP. I don't know how carefully they'll look at the dates.