international drivers license needed?
 

I have seen on several posts that an international driver's license is needed in Europe. We will be going to Italy in the spring. A friend just returned and said he did not need one there. So.......do I need to get one?
Thanks!

You might have better luck with this on the Europe forum.

Sorry, should have added, FWIW, my husband didn't have one when he drove in Ireland this past spring. :)

Last time I was in Italy I was not stopped by the police while driving, and nobody else asked me for one.

Therefore, I assume that one is not required.

Not a good assumption.

1) Go to the Europe Forum
2) Do a search for 'idl' in that forum
3) Read the threads, each with dozens of responses, on this question. Many have very good answers to this common, important question.

....didn't need one in Scotland.

We used an International drivers permit from <font color="red">AAA</font> for our visit last month to Italy. The permit is only good for 6 months, so best to wait to apply, if you happen to be going to Italy in May. According to link,:S- permit is required in Italy:
selectitaly.com/tips.php?p=driving

Actually unless things have changed the International Drivers Permit is good for one year.

Italy is one of the countries that passed a law that an IDP is required. Whether or not the car rental agency requires it is besides the point. If you are stopped for any reason by any law enforcement person in Italy and if you do not have the IDP you can receive a large fine and have problems.

In that the IDP is only $10.00 and the photo is only another $10.00 from your local AAA office it is not worth the potential problem to not have the IDP.

The IDP merely translates your US residence state drivers license into something like 15 languages including Italian. You must have your US residence state drivers license with you also when driving in Italy. Ireland and Scotland have the English language so consequently the IDP is not required. I believe Austria also legally requires that you have the IDP. Best regards.

Yes - Austria requires it and I am pretty sure Italy does too. Germany does not. Best to check the rules for individual countries to see what they require. I drove in Austria and no one ever asked me for my IDP, but then I was not stopped by the police. If I had been stopped, I am sure I would have been glad to have spent the $20 to get one.