One of the rental companies says we need an international drivers license for Italy. Does anyone know if it is required. Thanks

It's a legal requirement for Italy

alanRow must be correct. The rental agencies in Switzerland and Germany never bothered to look at it in the past, so we decided not to bother with it. I am glad I checked this forum before we went to Italy because the rental company in Italy asked us to show it and made a photocopy. I think it's better to have it in any country, you never know.

Hi paulnh,
We are going to Italy in September and we were told that my husband needed to get one. (We are renting a car for four days in Tuscany/Umbria.) It's simple to do, if you are a AAA member, just stop into one of their offices, pay the fee (I think my husband said it was $20) and you leave with the document/folder. When will you be in Italy?

You can get an IDP at AAA even if you are not a member. They just charge you a little more. It is actually called an International Driving Permit not a license. It is just a translation of your license so that local police or others can see your license info in their language.

Gina_07, I said it's a legal requirement not a car hire requirement.

Whilst the car hire company maky not check if you have an IDP in Italy, lack of one if stopped by the police can cause problems as legally you are not licenced to drive in Italy without one which means that your insurance is also invalid.

I just got my IDP. I don't have AAA close to where I live so I downloaded the form and mailed in what was required (2 passport sized photos,copy of driver's license and check for $15)
My IDP arrived within the week.

Does AAA take a photo at their offices?

Or is the passport photo requirement only if you mail in the application?

You have to have 2 photos, online or in person. One is kept by the agent, the other is actually stuck to the IDP itself.

alanRow:

thanks for the clarification. Your message was clear enough. I just thought that the car rental place checking it (in Italy only) indicated that, overall, it was taken more seriously in Italy and so you "must be right" saying that it's a legal requirement. Some people indicated on this forum earlier that they were actually stopped by the police and have their permits checked.

AAA will take the photot if need be - but they charge you extra for it. If you have a spare passport-type photo, take it w/ you to the AAA office.

Yes, AAA charged us $10 + tax to take the 2 photos for my wife.

I will add that we took and printed the photos at home. Choose a blank background and make sure it looks like your passport photos in terms of size etc. No need to pay fo the photos.