Hi all -
After deciding to rent a car for part of our upcoming time in Puglia, we knew obtaining IDPs was necessary. I searched online and the sites I found suggested it would take AAA 4-6 weeks to receive our IDPs, something which concerned me since we are leaving in 6 weeks for our trip. We called our local office and went in with photos in hand today, a Saturday, and walked out 10 minutes later with our IDPs. Ours are dated to become valid a few days after we arrive Italy and they are good for a year. Just thought this info might be of use to others. ✌🏼

Yes, it is! Thank you!

I did the same at my local AAA office, piece of cake. When I mentioned that I would be renewing my passport, they threw in 2 extra passport pics at no extra cost.

Four to six weeks? I've never heard of that. We just go into the local AAA office, and it's taken care of within 20 minutes - and that's if we have them take the photo. My only complaint is that the IDP is only good for a year. Seems like it should mirror the expiration date on one's driver's license. Seems like a waste of time - as well as $25 - to have to get a new one every year.

Which just goes to show one shouldn't believe everything they read on the internet

My granddaughter went to her local AAA with two photos after having made an appointment with them to get an IDP. They said they couldn't give her one because they had run out of blank forms. They suggested she go to a different city, or to return to them a few weeks later, neither of which she could do, because she was in the middle of university exams, and was leaving the US immediately after.

Sometimes what you read on the internet is correct for a specific time or location. I suggest you arrange to get your IDP well in advance of the trip.
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This is exactly what happened to us a few years ago. Every AAA office in the San Francisco Bay Area ran out of blank IDPs, so I had a friend in San Diego get one for us.

Stu Dudley

My granddaughter was annoyed that they hadn't warned her when she made the appointment.

I’ve never heard of it taking six weeks. I have always walked into a local AAA office and gotten it within minutes.

Lucky you

I also got my only IDP right on the spot, but that was a long time ago. It seems that this year has brought a big increase in European tourism, and probably likewise to other continents. Maybe AAA underestimated the number of IDP documents they would need.

We also just walk in and get ours within 20-30 minutes. Probably done this about 15 times

Including this year?

Why is AAA the only place to get the IDP? It's an official translation document required by many European counties that foreign drivers need to have in order to drive legally. It seems strange to me that AAA is the sole provider - especially when I read of lack of forms. It seems to me that any insurance company should be able to provide this service - or even the Post Office or local DMV. I'm sure any of them would like to charge $25 for something that takes five minutes to provide.

It does make more sense that the DMV & US Post office should issue the IDP. However, IMO AAA has much better customer service than the 2 government agencies. I can't imaging getting through the DMV in 20 mins (at least where I live).

Stu Dudley

U.K. drivers can get an IDP from the post office, but the US State Department has authorised only AAA to issue IDPs to US license holders. If you do a Google search for IDP you will find several who claim they can issue an IDP (often calling them an International Drivers Licence or IDL) over the internet, but these aren’t legal documents and won’t have the distinctive gray card stock cover of an authentic IDP.

https://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

My granddaughter, after failing to get an IDP from AAA, because they had run out of forms, got one of these fake IDPs. She paid $40 for it, and I realized it was fake when I saw it.

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Thanks for the information.

Making an appointment to get an IDP? Never had to do that! Luckily all of our car rentals are in Greece which doesn’t require it anymore. Italy does though.

When she made the appointment, they told her it wasn't really necessary, but they gave her an appointment anyway. She made it (well in advance ) for the day after her last exam, which was also the day before her departure. She wanted an appointment to make sure everything went smoothly. Instead, she got there (an hour's drive) and found they had no forms. You'd think they could have let her know, or, even better, since she made the appointment so far in advance, that they could have managed to have another office send them some forms.

Thanks! Yes, we have always just walked in and gotten one in a few minutes, but maybe we should begin earlier this year. I didn't know they would date it into the future.