So when I saw it in the mailbox I said, "Oh crap!". I hurried to open and saw it said 400euro and my wife wanted to know what was the matter. I told her that I thought it was a bill for a ZTL infraction and she got nervous that it said "tariff" thinking that was "traffico" so I used my phone's Google translate app to see what the Italian said. Turns out it was just a copy of the final bill which I should have known from the amount. I am still laughing at myself. I know I could still get a Hertz bill for them supplying the info to the police and a ticket could arrive after that but, in the moment I wasn't thinking.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Your credit card statement would show. Transaction for about $50 for providing info to the police, and that would happen by the end of the billing cycle. So breathe easy!
Posted by
278 posts
I'll add our "oh crap" moment. We were driving back to Siena first week in May after a day in Pienza and Montepulciano. We got a bit lost but that was easily corrected by making a second trip around the traffic circle we had just passed through. On the edge of the circle stood two police officers, a guy with a white wand, we are told its called a lolli pop. And the other was a woman with a submachine gun. They saw us the first time around and I suppose the second time he figured why not help those old folks out.. He waved us over with his lolli pop wand and you know we obeyed. The woman literally had a submachine gun in her arms.
This was just a random traffic stop by those two just standing by the traffic circle for who knows how long.
The police officer called in the information and came back a few minutes later with a smile saying "everything is fine-you can go". and gave back that International permit and DL.
So, don't even think about not taking the international permit!
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10230 posts
Richard-- completely understand. Been there.
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7049 posts
They actually send letters via snail mail? Why don't they just e-mail the final bill? What a waste of postage and paper. I'm guessing you received this at least a month after your trip, if not more.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10230 posts
They show up pretty quickly, a week or two.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
They actually send letters via snail mail? Why don't they just e-mail the final bill?
That is surprising. I used to get the final bill by mail from Europcar France, but that was awhile ago. Since then it's always been by email no matter who the rental company was.