How and where does one obtain an Internation Driving Permit. I hear that it can be helpful if you are pulled over.

Go to any AAA office in the States with a passport photo and $10.

Maybe someone else can tell us where one can be obtained if you don't live in the States.

You can also print out the application from the USA Immigration Services website but it will cost you $65.00!!!

What a rip!!

Find a AAA office!

In UK you can get then from the AA

Do I really need an international permit for Italy?

Italy is the only country for which Fodorites have actually been able to produce links and citations that indicate that the country actually does require the IDP. Sorry I don't hae hte links available, perhaps a search on IDP as text with Italy as a topic might find them.

It's always better to be safe than sorry. The permits are good for a year for all countries. It's only $10.

Does anyone know the origen of the Int Driv Lic? I am a bit confused as to how AAA gets the right to issue a "legal" document that appears to do nothing but translate a standard message into several languages. Why can't one just print it out off some internet site?

BTW I always carry one but have never been asked for it.

It is an International Drivers Permit, not a license. I get one every time I plan to drive anywhere in Europe, but especially Italy. It is simply a translation into several languages of your current drivers license. If you are lucky, you won't need it. But better to be safe and have it if you really do need it.

Just checked with AAA. They will do the passport photos for $10.95 plus tax and $10 for the international permit. You need to fill out a form for the permit and they will do all of it while you wait. It does not matter whether you are a AAA member or not.

Just back from Italy, and rented a car. I did get a International Driver Lic from AAA - I think it was 10 bucks. But I never needed it - no one asked, not the rental car company - nonone. But I guess it it is required by police if you get stopped, or end up in an accident (which is somewhat likely in ITaly) I really don't belive it is a legal document - it is just a transalation of a Legal Document(US drivers LIC) - so there is nothing wrong with AAA issueing it. It has no value or use if used without a valid US drivers Lic

From FAQs data on RenaultUSA leasing website see the following comment.

Qo I need an international driver's license?
A:
First let us reiterate that the minimum age limit for this lease program is only 18 years, and there is no maximum age limit. The only other requirement in this regard is that you've held your valid driving license for at least a year.

Many countries require of you, the foreign driver, no license apart from your domestic drivers license. However, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, and Spain do, by law at least, require non-Europeans to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with their domestic license. Bulgaria and the Czech Republic require all foreign drivers to carry an IDP. Is it really necessary that you obtain an IDP to if you plan to drive in these countries? It all depends on the particular police officer that might happen to pull you over. It's up to you whether you cover yourself in this regard. For more information, check with your local auto club (AAA, CAA?).


Hope this helps.

The IDP program was established by international agreement. It's up to each country to determine how to issue them. In the USA and many other countries, auto clubs like AAA are licensed to issue the IDPs. There is another auto club in the USA that is also licensed to issue IDPs, but I forget the name. You have to get the IDP in the country where your regular driving license was issued.

From AAA: The IDP is a document that provides important information from your driver?s license in 11 different languages, including English. This document came into existence by virtue of a treaty signed in 1949 by the United States and other foreign countries. As an official document, the IDP is recognized in over 150 countries today. Carried in conjunction with a regular drivers license, the IDP can help break down language barriers when traveling in non-English speaking countries. In addition, the IDP provides an additional source of identification.

Am I required to have an IDP in foreign countries?
There are some countries that do not recognize a drivers license from the United States, but officially recognize an IDP (e.g. Hungary). There are other countries that honor a United States drivers license, but require a local language translation (e.g. Spain). The IDP can satisfy these types of situations. Keep in mind, however, that while a certain country's government may not require an IDP, car rental companies located in that country, such as Hertz, may require an IDP to rent a car.

We drove all over Spain and Italy and no one, including car rental people, asked for an international driving permit, neither did any of us have one.

We did just get one for driving in Austria -- through AAA -- very easy and not nearly as expensive as the services on the internet, the cost of which varies tremendously -- I thought those might be scams.

Barbara--yes, most on the internet are scams.

For those that travel every year to Europe or elsewhere, do you renew your IDL or just take your expired IDL. It's kind of a pain to renew it every year, especially since my state issued license last 4 years. Just wondering.

Tammylouky;
I got one from AAA in the summer of 99'
with an expiration date of 2000.I just change the last number in the expiration date each year. Have done so for the last 3 summers and plan on doing it for our upcoming trip to Italy and Croatia. And yes, I was stopped two years ago outside of Asolo for a routine traffic check. I showed the officer my local driver's license and my
3+ year old IDP with the changed exp.date. We had no problem as he barely looked at either.

Thanks for asking that question, tammy,

AND for the good idea Antonio!

I could never understand what could "expire" on the IDP as it is just a translation pf your valis dated US license

I suspect that IDP's expire annually so that (1) AAA can make more money and (2) people won't have IDP's that don't match new licenses. It's easier for the IDP issuer than checking the expiration date of the license associated with every IDP they issue. Surely it would make more sense for an IDP to have the same lifespan as the license on which it's based!

The international agreement that established IDPs (IDL is not correct--it is not a license) requires one year expiration. It has nothing to do with profits--I doubt that any AAA (or any other issuer) is making huge profits off the $10 they charge.

Rufus, you are begging the question -- why does the legislation require a one-year expiration?

If AAA is making anything at all on IDPs (which how could they not, considering how easily they are produced and that they are offered to nonmembers), then selling more of them would be more profitable, wouldn't it? The legislation needed to provide some impetus for an organization like AAA to be willing to become the official agency for producing them -- they're not doing it out of the goodness of their heart.