Do I need one? What about insurance? I have always used trains.

there was a thread on this,you night try it under search. We bought one from AAA ,but not sure if we really needed.It wasnt expensive so just did it. We used Auto Europe and didnt add any addtional insurance,I think it was just included in the price,which thank goodness it was as we had a little 'incident'.Found out we were covered later.Next time we will ask more up front..

We are going to Greece in October and were advised by AutoEurope we must have have an int'l license in order to rent the car. As for insurance, our policy with State Farm does not cover us overseas but our gold VISA does. There is a 13% airport fee that is not covered by the AutoEurope quote.

I have rented cars in several European countries and I have never had an international license, but the rules might not be the same everywhere. Ask the car rental agency.

The car rental agency may not know, and certainly won't care, as it makes no difference to them as long as you have a valid regular permit. I've rented cars a bunch of times in Italy, for example, from AutoEurope and no one there ever mentioned I was required to have an International Driver's Permit.

It is the law in at least Italy and Austria (probably other countries, too) that you must carry an International Driver's Permit (it's not a license, just an accepted, official translation of your regular permit). If you are stopped and found not to have one, you may be fined on the spot, or possibly worse. In all likelihood, that won't happen, which is why so many people perpetuate the myth that you don't need one.
It's a small investment, so if you're traveling in a country that requires one, make a trip to AAA. Or you can simply get a certified translation of the text of your license.

Long ago I got an international driver's license, but have NEVER been asked for it. Supposedly the purpose is to translate into the local language the fact you are licensed to drive. It is an especially ridiculous requirement for Greece, since the license does not include a Greek translation so would seem to serve absolutely no purpose. I have been stopped and ticketed for speeding in Greece, and all they were interested in seeing was my US driver's license. Well, they did want my passport, but I didn't have it with me and they were quite happy to give me a ticket anyway!

Coworkers of mine heading to Athens have been told they must have an int'l drivers' licence in order to drive while there.
We've never been asked to provide one when renting cars in the UK.
It can't hurt to have one. It's a small cost that might save you a lot of hassle.

Thanks, it seems like it might not be necessary, but good to have just in case.

St. Cirq--I drove for almost 2 weeks in Austria without an int'l driver's permit of any sort, thank God I wasn't stopped!! OK, you've sold me, next time I'll get one.

PM: I, too, drove all over Europe for years without one and then was stopped in Italy once and fined and threatened with jail time (for making a right turn on red, which I stupidly assumed was legal) because I didn't have one. Fortunately, I spoke Italian well enough to provide a translation on the spot of my US driver's license, but had I not, who knows what would have become of me?

It really is a small price to pay for assurance of some compliance with the local law.

YIKES!! It would be so scary to be threatened with jail time, but thankfully you were able to talk your way out of that. Just curious--how much were you fined?

BTW, I don't think I would have known that right turns on red aren't legal there either. It's possible that the next time I drive in Europe, you have really saved my butt with this info!!

PM- This was at least 10 years ago - for all I know, right turns on red are legal in Italy now, or maybe they even were back then and the Italian police were just out to hound a person driving a rental car, but it was a scary moment.

At the time I was fined 50,000 lire - don't even know what that would amount to in euros these days - not that much, but it seemed a bit at the time. And as it was an on-the-spot fine, there was no recourse. I didn't get a "receipt" or anything. In fact, I'm quite sure it paid for a nice lunch for the officers who pulled me over!

Be safe - get the IDP!

For the record:

Right turns, left turns or any kind of turns are illegal throughout civilised Europe when the lights are red.

There used to be a partial exception to this in parts of ex-Soviet occupied Europe, where there was a charming system called the Grune Pfeil. In the early days after German reunification, this meant two different systems in Berlin

My understanding though is that this has, in true EU style, now been harmonised. They all now do it our way (ie red means stop. Not stop if you feel like it).

Whether this is true in all the unruly territories outside the EEA and Switzerland I'm not sure.

I have never had an International license (driving in UK,FR,Germany, Austria, Switerland, IT, PT, SP), but I was forced to buy the "autobahn stickers" to drive in Austria and Switzerland. My Plat MC, Amex and now all Visa cards cover auto ins in W. Europe as does my auto insurer. AutoEurope and Eurocar provide "free" insurance coverage, but it excludes theft.
M

Check the US Consular service for specific driving regulations of country you are to visit. Typically in Poland you are required to carry, passport, local drivers license (USA), International Permit, car title and proof of insurance. You must take them with you when leaving car. Certainly you can evade the requirements but if caught the expense will be significant. Without the required papers even if you are an 'innocent victim' you will be in expensive trouble. Scams include crashing decrepit vehicle into expensive one!

EU regulations now include requirements that right turns on red are only with green arrow! Most Polish crossings and intersections do not have signing. General rules exist! Problem intersections usully have broken glass on pavement. Happy motoring!

For info on the IDP (required by law to drive NOT to rent in Italy), International/Italian Road signs and some basic helpful hints (no you cannot make a right on a red in Italy)can be found on my site http://www.chianti-assistance.com/Dr...taly/index.htm

By the way, the worst that will happen to you if caught without and you have a cop who is not in a friendly mood is that you will be fined AND have the car impounded on the spot. I know a girl who was left on the side of the highway when her car was impounded for this reason.

That was probably one of her best vacation stories....but I would sure like to avoid that.