I have seen on many posts that an international driver's license is needed in Europe....We will be going to Italy in the spring. A friend just returned and said he did not need one. Is it not required?
Thanks!

An international drivers license is required in Italy. Will you be required to show it to rent a car? No. But it will be necessary if you get pulled over.

Its basically just a translation of your drivers license. You can get that at your local AAA for $10.00.

Tracy

Hi,
I've driven on many trips in Austria, Germany and Italy and never needed my Int. Drivers Lic. but I always get one just in case. Cheap to get at AAA.

paul

Oh no . . . not this again . . .

Sorry, but there has been endless discussion about this topic. I have never NEEDED one. But I never got in an accident or got pulled over - well, once in Nowhere, Tuscany by machine gun carrying Cabineri who flagged me down at 130kms/hr but they waved us on without talking.

As other posters point out, the police might not accept or understand your foreign license. It might mean a trip to the local station & a ruined day. Probably worth the effort & cost.

That said, I’ve driven in France, Spain, Italy & Cuba without one.

Ian

It's an International Driver's Permit, not License. It is required in some countries but not all. As stated above, it's a translation of the information on your driver's license. Others have said it was not needed to rent the car, but I was required to show it last year when I rented in Italy, not sure why. If the country you are renting the car requires it, I'd get it. You can be fined if you don't have it when asked to show it. It's $10 plus the photos, so not a big hardship. You do need to carry your valid driver's license with you if you are driving anywhere, just an FYI. Have a fun trip!

We did get "pulled over" in a rest stop for doing a u-turn in front of the police to go from the bus/truck parking area to the car parking. Lots of talking and gesturing, going nowhere fast. We pulled out our IDP and they sent us on our way. Don't know if one had anything to do with the other - they just got tired of trying to get us to understand what they were saying or if the license was what they were asking for in the first place - either way, I can tell you we'll be getting IDP's when we return to Italy next year!

Hi H,

Italy requires that you have an IDP along with your normal driver's license.

It is needed only if a policeman asks for it.