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International Driving Permit?

Is it required to have an International Driving Permit to drive in Italy?

This topic comes up every now and again, and I really don't think there's been a definative answer. I have been to Europe many times, and have driven in most of the countries, including Italy. I have never had an International Driving Permit. Of course, I've never been stopped, so I have no idea if that was wise or not. From what I have read, here and in a number of guide books, you do not need a Permit.

You are not required to have an international drivers license, but if stopped it could help. Do a search I am sure there is a thread on pros and cons of getting one. The biggest pro, is if you are stopped and the officer does not speak English, (assuming that that is your primary language) the international license is in multiple languages. With anti-american sentiment in some places, it could help or hinder!

Downside of a permit takes a hour of time and 25 dollars(including photo)I go to AAA.Upside- if stopped and don't have it who knows what happens,cost and inconvience are worth it.

Italian law requires you to have either an IDL or an "official translation" of any driver's license not printed in Italian. Car rental agencies will rent you a car without an IDL and that is why so many people think that they are not required.

Grinisa is correct, it is the law (read below to see the law). You may never need it but you could so why ruin a vacation. It took me 5 minutes to get mine at AAA and it cost $16 with the pictures included. Here is the info: From the State Police Site http://www.poliziadistato.it From their FAQ: Sono un cittadino statunitense. Per condurre un'auto in Italia posso utilizzare la patente dello Stato di New York, USA, o e' d'obbligo la patente internazionale? Risposta: E' necessario disporre della patente internazionale o, in alternativa, della patente americana accompagnata da una traduzione ufficiale in lingua italiana. Poiché le stesse disposizioni valgono anche per gli altri Paesi dell'Unione Europea, pare opportuno suggerire di chiedere il rilascio della patente internazionale con la quale è possibile condurre veicoli anche nel resto dell'Europa ed evitare di avere al seguito la traduzione della patente americana nelle diverse lingue europee. From the FAQ: I am an American citizen. To drive an auto in Italy, may I use my NY State license or do I need an International License? It is necessary to have an international license or your American state license accompanied by an official translation in Italian. Because this same rule is valid for the entire EU, we suggest applying for an international license so that you can drive throughout Europe and avoid having to carry multiple translations of your American license. From the ACI site (department of motor vehicles in Italy): I conducenti con patente o permesso internazionale rilasciati da uno Stato estero non appartenente alla CE possono guidare in Italia veicoli per i quali è valida la loro patente (o il permesso) purché non siano residenti in Italia da oltre un anno. Se la patente, o il permesso, non sono conformi a modelli stabiliti in convenzioni internazionali cui abbia aderito anche l'Italia, devono essere accompagnati da una traduzione ufficiale in lingua italiana o da documento equivalente. Drivers with licenses or international permits from a foreign country not of the EU may drive a vehicle for as long as their home license is valid as long as they have not been residents of Italy for more than a year. If the license or permit does not conform to the international conventions as does Italy, you must have an official translation into Italian or an equivalent document (IDP) A US State driver's license does not conform as it is only in English and it is state not country issued. Special notes: You must carry your US State, Canadian state, etc. license along with your IDP as they work together. Neither of these are considered valid ID in Italy which everyone who is here must carry at all times. The only ID that Italy recognized from a US or Canadian citizen is their passport. I have written a section about driving at the Slow Trav site. It describes the important laws for people from North America as well as their are sections with pictures and explanations of road signs on the links on the right. The starting page is here. http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/road_signs/index.htm

We never rent a car in the UK or Europe WITHOUT an international drivers license.. If you get in an accident ( VERY possible in Italy-lol) , the first thing the cops will want is your IDL... SO ,for a small fee at AAA, get the license and rest easy....

So how about this? I got an International Drivers Permit last year that is now expired while my permanant drivers license has not. So this year I take my expired(?)IDP to Europe and am stopped. I show my last years IDP with the required offical translation. Doesn't this fulfill my translation obligation or is the translation no longer official because somehow the translation has changed?

andy: Why would you need an IDP (translation) in the UK??

Your US driver license holds no legal relevance anywhere else, but in the US. Sadly, my husband and I have had the "distinction" of having to hand over a driver license in France, Spain and Italy. In Paris, we drove the wrong way for about 50 meters. When stopped by traffic police, we handed over the IDP. The translation was enough to get us off the hook with a warning to "-be more careful-". In Italy, we were stopped at a routine road check while driving around Genoa. In the conversation, the policeman told us that they are instructed to check that foreign drivers have a tranlated version of their home country licenses. Also, that if they see the need to take the license away, they would take the IDP instaed of the home country license. In Spain, we were stopped during a road check on our way to Ronda. No questions asked, the policeman examined the IDP with detail, handed it over and sent us on our way. Well worth the money in all three ocassions.

I agree with Maira. We were stopped in Oct. just outside Venice in some sort of road check. Policeman didn't speak English... husband doesn't speak Italian. He presented his international license and we were waved on our way.

Gino asked a good question. Why is the IDP only good for one year? I am about to buy a new one for the third time in five years yet I have had the same U.S. driver's license for the entire time period. You would think they would make the IDPs good for at least as long as your driver's license. Just seems like a racket to charge $16 with a one year expiration.

I am planning to drive a friend's car in UK and they will get insurance for me. Do I need an international license?

annonymous- I just did what AAA recommended-- I have always had an IDL whenever I have rented an auto outside of the US.... Since the UK is a different country from the one I have a legit license in, I felt an IDL would help me in case of an accident....No other reason other than AAA recommended it in case of an accident since my License from the US is not the same as a license from the UK-- ie. the need for an IDL.... That's all I can tell you...We always travel with one...

The IDL is not a legal document, it's just a translation! AAA isn't even the only organization that provides them. I can't imagine that you'd need a license translation in the UK!!

ttt for the nice poster asking for advice on IDL.

As pointed out before, it is an International Driving Permit--not an International Driving License. Each country decides what organization issues them in that country.

The only 2 organizations that can issue an official IDP in the USA are AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (via their National Auto Club). I doubt that they are a big money maker for AAA at $10 a pop.

Why 1 year expiration? Guess you'd have to go into the history of the negotiations among the participating nations--maybe concerns about people changing addresses or some such. It could be a research project for someone.

Although Frommer's Italy 2004 pg, 70 says you do not need an International Driver License for Italy Italian law says you do.

That's what I get for listening to Frommer's and not Fodors. ;)

Hi mn,

Full information is found at the US Dept of State site

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/a...y.html#permits

I just went to AAA and purchased my International Driving Permit.

It only took moments to do. You fill out a very short form, they take 2 pictures and then they put the booklet together.

The fee for the permit was $10. The charge for the two pictures was $10. (I believe you get the pics for less if you are a AAA member.)

You can bring your own 2 photos. I believe they need to be the kind you would have for your passport.

As to the valid date you state in the application when you want the permit to be valid. For example, it is now July but I don't need the IDP to be valid until I get to Italy in October. So on the front of the IDP on the line where it states Date it specifies October 3, 2004 and the IDP is valid for one year from October 3rd.

The only hinkle for me is that my regular license expires in March of 2005 as the AAA lady pointed out. She said this means if I were to need my IDP after my regular license expires I will also need to renew my IDP.

I hope this clears some things up for others that were not sure about the IDP business.