International Driving Permit needed in Germany/Denmark?

I highly recommend you get one, required or not. It's cheap and provides the validation that your state license is valid and can be translated by a rental agent or police officer who may not speak English all that well. It's like insurance: you most likely will never need it, but in those rare cases where you do, it really helps to have it.

From AAA site linked below:

Am I required to have an IDP in foreign countries?

There are some countries that do not recognize a driver’s license from the United States, but officially recognize an IDP (e.g. Hungary). There are other countries that honor a valid United States driver’s license, but require a local language translation (e.g. Spain, Italy and Germany). The IDP can satisfy these types of situations. Keep in mind, however, that while a certain country’s government may not require an IDP, car rental companies located in that country, such as Hertz, may require an IDP to rent a car. Purchasing an IDP prior to departure can save a lot of potential hassles, and it may be helpful as identification.

http://www.aaa.com/ppinternational/IDP_IADP_Apply.html

Given the small cost for an I.D.P., I'd suggest packing one along in case it's required.

Re that quote "while a certain country’s government may not require an IDP, car rental companies ...., may require an IDP to rent a car".
It is more likely to be the other way around. I.e. car rental companies don't bother to ask for the IDP, but it is a legal requirement. You are then OK until You happen to get stopped for a random police check, or have an accident. You cannot produce an IDP to the police, and you are legally-speaking driving without a valid licence, which is a serious offence.
Your licence is in a foreign language, and in a strange format, and the policeman has now way of tellling if it is a valid licence or a bus pass!

As far as i know you can use your US-driving permit in Germany as long as you are allowed to drive in the US.
For example: If your licence is suspended in the us you are not allowed to use your permit here.
If you stay more than 6 months in Germany you have to registrate and translate it.

In my opinion $15-20 is a miniscule part of your travel budget. I just get one if I plan to drive in another country. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

$15 = very inexpensive peace of mind

I can confirm an IDP is not required in Germany if you have a valid US drivers license. I don't know about Denmark though.

DJ

I make monthly trips to germany as well as other parts of Europe. International driving permits are one of those things no one ever other than tourists get. And usually the people who swear you need them are tourists who rarely drive there. I've been driving in Europe for 25 years and never had one. I've never been asked to show one at any rental car pick up. And quite frankly other than reading in tourist forums I forget that they even exist.

The purpose of the driving permit is only to "translate" your information into a standard format that the police can read. Contrary to what people say they don't prove you have a valid license in your home company they are merely a helpful document. In reality in northern europe and especially germany they generally speak english. I might consider the permit if I was driving in places like italy. But international driving permits are something that were much more common 30 years ago.

The other thing is that in germany you will never be pulled over by the police anyway. They usually get you on cameras and send you a ticket by mail (or to the rental car company). You can drive the autobahn for days and never see a patrol like you do in north america.

I am quite certain I'll get 10 people "claiming" to be experts or germans and know that they are required, but I can tell you no one bothers with them any more. Everyone loves to say how it is cheap insurance etc.. but what exactly do they help you with? If you were to be asked to show your license most likely they wouldn't even care about the IDP. But if they did the word "sorry" and being polite goes a long way give you are a foreigner. It isn't like you will be taken to jail. In rare cases in places like italy I've been told that they asked for a small fine to be paid on the spot. I've never been asked to pay any spot fine for anything but if so it was most likely not a fine but a bribe which an IDP wouldn't help you with anyway.

Just bring your driver's license from home and have your passport, be polite and you will have no issues.