Do you get a new IDP each year or do you use an expired IDP if the information has not changed?

The only info that it contains is your name, place of birth, date of birth and current city, state, and country of residence... and a really bad photo.

I have had car rental agencies ask me for it but I doubt that they ever looked at the expiration info on the cover.

What do you do?

the teenager at AAA who scribbled in my name, place of birth, dob and address had such bad handwriting that the 2007 looks like a 2...

For my next trip I could turn it into a 2011 with a few strokes of a black pen and it would still be neater than the original writing.

The 1yr validity is a farce, IMO.

If you are going to a country where it is not mandatory then take the old one... if somewhere like Greece or Italy where your car insurance can be null and void without a proper IDP it's not worth taking the chance to save 20 bucks... so get
a new one.

You will have absolutely no need for such a document in France. No French policemen will ever ask for it, they are completely capable of deciphering the necessary information if needed, even if it is in English.

You don't need one for France or Belgium, so it doesn't matter.

Not at all required and totally useless in France and Belgium. The only valid driving permit in these countries is your actual driver's license.

I've never gotten one of those in France, serves no purpose.

oh, forgot your question -- I've never had any car rental agency ask me for that thing in France. They ask for a real driver's license.

Thanks everyone.

And I worked for Avis in France for 8 months many years ago!