Heading to Italy soon and am getting mixed advice about IDP's. Are they required in Italy or just recommended? What would happen if you got stopped and didn't have one? How about if we rented our car elsewhere (for instance Switzerland) but drove into Italy. Still needed? I searched the topic but most replies were pretty old. Thanks in advance!

It is legally required.

Saltysmom,

It doesn't cost that much to get one when you think about what you are spending overall on your trip. And it's legally required. You rental agency may not give you your car without it. All it is is a translation of your US license (or other country).

I paid $30 for mine with picture at AAA last time. The funny thing was, the AAA agent made a mistake and circled that my license was for motorcycle operation! No one noticed until I went to pick up my rental car in Sicily and the agent pointed it out. He didn't care, but we had a laugh.

So check up on what they give you when you get it!

Buon viaggo!

I haven't had one for years, but I read about a rental agency (in Spain, I think) requiring one, so I went out and got one this week.

>>I haven't had one for years, . . .<< That could be OK -- some countries require them and some don't.

As for the OP -- they are legally required in Italy (the rental agency might not ask to see it but if there is a problem you do need to have one or you are committing an offense, plus your insurance could be voided)

Thanks for your input. We will be getting one!

<i> if there is a problem you do need to have one or you are committing an offense, plus your insurance could be voided)</i>

janisj - do you have any evidence verifying that a driver actually lost his insurance coverage because his otherwise legal license was not translated into Italian?

Sarastro, I was told by a marshall of the Carabinieri, a friend of my husband, when I moved to Italy, that until I got my Italian license the law of the land required that I carry an IDP or other official translation along with my normal license.

To get an official Italian translation of any document is a royal PITA, requiring an appearance at the consulate and an apostille, and costs about ten times what the IDP costs.

I don't understand why, every time this topic comes up, people always rush to insist that a document that's easily and inexpensively obtained and is <b> required by law </b> really isn't necessary.

When I become CEO of Penguin Random House, I will require that all questions on IDL's in Italy automatically redirect to bvlenci's reply.

If you are a shareholder of the firm, please right in my name on your next proxy.

Obtain the document from AAA and that's another item addressed. The old cliche: It's better to have it and not need it."

Buon viaggio,

I agree, better to have it and not need it.....I always obtain prior to my Europe travels (they are only valid for one year). That being said, I have rented vehicles in Spain, France, Croatia, Italy and Germany in the last several years and was never asked to produce the IDL, always just my US license. Was stopped by the local police at a checkpoint outside of Naples three years ago and again just asked for my US license.

In December 2014, we went to Spain and hired a car at Alicante. The clerk at the hire car desk accepted my U.K. licence as it was, but asked my U.S. brother in law for his IDP as well as his California licence.

She also said that he should always carry his IDP and his licence when driving, and that both of us should carry our passports when driving.

Akislander, do you need a campaign manager?

<i>I don't understand why, every time this topic comes up, people always rush to insist that a document that's easily and inexpensively obtained and is required by law really isn't necessary.</i>


bvlenci - I cannot find the post to which you are referring on this thread, where someone insists that a license translation is not necessary.

My post quite specifically questioned the claim that an insurance company would invalidate coverage of a driver who, when otherwise operating with a valid license, did not have his license translated. I have found no evidence, not one single case in which a driver lost his insurance coverage simply because he was not carrying a license translation.

If janisj has such evidence, I would be eager to read it.

The translation requirement is actually uniform within all EU member countries, which is why a UK license in English is acceptable but a US license is not.

Any insurance company can and many would void insurance coverage IF one is driving illegally.

Sure, they <i>might</i> cover a loss, but they would have a reason to void coverage.

Not entirely applicable but from a Q&A from one of my personal insurance companies >>“Having a license is a part of your contractual agreement. If you break that contract coverage may be voided or refused.”<<

In the case of some countries/jurisdictions, having an IDP is also part of the 'contractual agreement' -

Why give them the opening??????

uhoh, is it back with a new name, again?

I've been asked for my IDP upon renting in Italy. YMMV.

>>>My post quite specifically questioned the claim that an insurance company would invalidate coverage of a driver who, when otherwise operating with a valid license, did not have his license translated. I have found no evidence, not one single case in which a driver lost his insurance coverage simply because he was not carrying a license translation.<<<

Do you have a link that proves every insurance will honor someone driving illegally?

A couple years ago on the Steves site someone posted that they had been in a very minor fender scrape in Rome without an IDP. The fine was 250 Euro and threaten impoundment of the rent vehicle because he could not legal drive it. Somehow he talked his way out of the impoundment. At least the Italians are serious about it.

I cannot comment on the seriousness or lack thereof of Italian jurisprudence. Actually my point has nothing to do with the Italian police. It has everything to do with what the insurer does and the erroneous claim that one risks financial ruin should he be in an accident and not have his license translated, regardless of how the accident occurred.

I am curious for those of you in possession of an IDP; into what language(s) is the English translated?

<i>I am curious for those of you in possession of an IDP; into what language(s) is the English translated?</i>

Arabic, Russian,Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, German, Spanish, French, and I missed a couple.