I was asked to show my IDP last week in Italy to rent a car.

I rented a car in Spain (Barcelona) 3 months ago from Hertz. They asked if I had an IDP and I told them I did and would you like to see it. They said they did not need to see it but were just alerting me to the fact I might need it in Spain if asked by police. I am a US citizen.

Ironically I started a thread about the topic here on Fodor's recently and not one person could site an adverse incident or a known fine for not producing an IDP. With tourism down in Europe this year perhaps a new revenue enhancement effort is being directed to the enforcement of the IDP.

I've never had an adverse incident or a known fine -- but then, I always have an IDP when driving internationally and I've always shown it, without being asked, when I pick up a rental.

I always carry one. It costs $15 and AAA will take your photo at the same time you apply for the IDL.

Do you want to find out that you needed one and didn't have one? I have heard of people being refused rental cars without the IDL.

I have never been asked for the IDL but I still intend to carry one. Better be safe than sorry for $15.

I don't understand the reluctance to spend the pittance it costs to ensure you have the correct permit, either.

I think my most recent one, which I'll renew before my next trip, cost me about $15.

A bit like spending thousands on airfares & accommodation, hours on flights & caviling at 50 $,€ or £ for a taxi to the hotel at midnight, in my mind.

And not just refusing to spend a relatively small amount to avoid potentially costly or unpleasant outcomes, but refusing to honor the laws of the nation being visited....

<i>And not just refusing to spend a relatively small amount to avoid potentially costly or unpleasant outcomes, </i>

I am still waiting for the fist verifiable account of a tourist being locked up, or even fined, because his otherwise valid driver´s license was not accompanied by an IDP.

You might not be locked up or fined but you will be unable to rent a car in Italy. That is for certain.

***I am still waiting for the fist verifiable account of a tourist being locked up, or even fined, because his otherwise valid driver´s license was not accompanied by an IDP.***
The trouble in life is that know one likes to admit to failure.

And no one ever said that you could get locked up for not having an IDL. You don't need one if you KNOW that you are not going to rent a car. I usually home exchange abroad. That means I get a car with the exchange, but I don't KNOW that I will never need a rental car because the car may have a problem. You never know.

Also, if I get stopped by the police, I don't want to be in the position that where I would be asked for an IDL and did not have one.

So, go to Europe without an IDL and good luck, Sarastro. Save the $15 and report back to us how and where you rented a car without one. Rules can change at any time.

Sarastro is already in Europe actually.

lauren_s_kahn wrote "You might not be locked up or fined but you will be unable to rent a car in Italy. That is for certain."

Absolutely not true! Who told you that? I rented a car from Europecar in Rome 4 months ago and was never asked, nor did I show, my IDP!

Bokhara2 wrote "I don't understand the reluctance to spend the pittance it costs to ensure you have the correct permit, either." and kja wrote "...refusing to honor the laws of the nation being visited...."

My IDP cost $25 (not $15) 6 months ago from AAA and had to wait almost an hour to get it done. I find it suspicious that only AAA can issue an IDP and not also the DMV or anyone else. The inconvenience and expense is just another unnecessary pain which seems to serve no useful purpose. As computers today can easily verify information, the IDP seems more a revenue enhancement tool rather than a legitimate requirement for law enforcement. I do not invest in meteorite insurance either although I understand they hit the earth almost daily. The point is it seems foolish to purchase something which has proven to be unnecessary. This forum is useful in trying to determine if indeed the IDP is necessary. The problem is many speak authoritatively about things they really know nothing about. To date, nobody has been somehow punished for not having an IDP.

Finally, I find it most interesting about honoring the rules of the country being visited. If you have ever driven in Italy you would soon understand the locals do not honor the rules of their country. Routinely, stop signs and stop lights are flagrantly ignored. Painted lines are simply a suggestion. If you believe "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" you will quickly understand the culture of Italy and their driving manners, particularly the more south you go in Italy, do not adhere to generally accepted rules of the road. To honor the country's culture you must dishonor the country's rules. Catch 22.

I will continue to grudgingly purchase an IDP when driving in Europe although I am very skeptical that it is indeed needed.

Of course, we must all decide what rules / laws to obey and which to disregard. For me (and I don't make decisions for anyone else), I prefer to obey rules and laws unless I am opting for a specific act of civil disobedience -- and while I could be mistaken, it seems to me that civil disobedience is unlikely to be effective if no one knows about it. (To paraphrase an obvious example offered by Woody Allen, a sit-in doesn't generally have much of an effect if you do it by yourself in your own home.)

I choose to obey the law of other countries insofar as I can for at least three reasons: (1) I think there is value in recognizing the right of foreign countries to set their own laws, whether they are scoff laws or not. (2) When traveling, I am always aware that, intentionally or not, I am a representative of MY country. I choose to do anything and everything I can to avoid seeming like a rude American (read rude person from the U.S.). (3) I also don't want to deal with avoidable problems. Even if checking on IDPs (or whatever else) is extremely rare, I don't want to waste my time while on vacation dealing with a problem that could have been easily (and affordably) avoided.

JMO.

<i>So, go to Europe without an IDL and good luck, Sarastro. Save the $15 and report back to us how and where you rented a car without one. </i>

I shall report to you that in years past, I have rented more cars than I could possibly remember and no one ever asked for an IDP; not a rental agency, not a police officer. Further, based upon my admittedly minimal experience with European court systems, if you are required to present yourself for a formal proceeding of some type, you will most likely need an official translation of your license completed by a court approved translator.

People become absolutely wrapped up in this issue. Telling others that they are somehow <i>rude Americans</i> simply because they didn´t give AAA $20 for an IDP is nonsense. For anyone wanting to get an IDP, get one. If you forget and do not have one, the odds are rather good that you will not be jailed nor even fined.

And WoinParis is correct, I am still in Europe.

"seem" being a critical word

I have rented a car many times in Europe and always had an IDP but was never asked for it. BUT when my husband and I were on one of the Greek Islands, he was asked for his IDP, which he had, to rent an ATV. I was also asked for an IDP when I rented a car in Costa Rica. So you just never know. I'd rather spend the few dollars for a license and just avoid a problem.

To those who write about Europe. Did you not know that we Europeans are live in different countries thus regulations are not always the same. Despite what you may see in the press.

Tssss. Don't make it too complex. Think how many are ready to vote for Trump.
Make it easy : here - there - overthere.
Lol !

I don't think PUNISHMENT for not having one would be my worry. My worry would be not being able to rent a car on my driving vacation. ..nothing else.

Insofar as renting a car in Italy is concerned, on September 10th my friends, who I visited in Florence, rented a car for the day. My name could not be put on it as an additional driver because I had lost my IDL. It was no problem for us as they had IDLs and it was just for one day. Mine had been accidentally thrown away on the first leg of my recent trip in Iceland when I cleaned out the exchangers' car. I certainly will obtain one before my next trip abroad.

Fortunately, since I was home exchanging, I did not need to rent a car in Italy. I was certainly aware that there could be a problem after the IDL was lost.

Enough said.