Getting international driver permit while abroad?

You can get one made if you visit the French or Greek version of AAA... I'm not sure what the names are in those countries, but the equivalent in Germany is ADAC and ÖAMTC in Austria, for example.

If you can't get one in Paris as suggested you will most likely still be able to rent a car in Greece with your normal license and your passport. However, if you get in an accident and don't have the IDP any insurance coverage you think you have will be invalidated, including that coverage offered by your Credit Card company, because you will have been driving illegally. Here's an idea: try the American Embassy in Paris.

2 avenue Gabriel
75008 Paris (Metro Concorde)
Phone: [33] (1)43122222
Fax: [33] (1)42669783

Consular Services (Visas and American Citizen Services)
4 avenue Gabriel 75008 Paris

If the helpful suggestions don't work. Take the local KTEL buses. Cheaper and the go everywhere.

With a US drivers license, the approved provider of an International Drivers Permit is the US AAA. I don't think a foreign provider will be able to help you.

In my experience (I was in a similar situation) the Greek rental agencies are more likely to ask for your IDP when you rent. So be prepared that without one, you may very well be denied a rental car.

Other than the potential for fines, it isn't real clear what the implications of driving without an IDP are. You are not supposed to legally drive without one, but whether than invalidates any insurance coverage is questionable. But at the very least it does put you a risk if you were to have an accident (your fault or not).

Send me a PM if you want more details of my experience.

PS - The American embassy cannot assist getting an IDP.

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies. I wasn't able to find any resources here in Paris (I didn't call the embassy but considering it's AAA and not the state that issues it I'm not sure that would help anyway), but fortunately one of my travel companions hasn't left yet and he's going to get the IDP. We'll have to change our itinerary a bit, but minimally, and at least that way I don't have to risk fines or invalidated insurance.

This whole process seems silly to me (really AAA, this whole Internet thing is so new that you can't get it done in less than 4-6 weeks?) but better safe than sorry. I appreciate the help guys. Back to my regularly scheduled Paris.

"..........................but whether than invalidates any insurance coverage is questionable."

Not in Greece, it isn't. Insurance companies won't pay claims if they don't have to, and if you are driving without the proper documentation and get in an accident, they don't have to pay out because you have broken the law.

Don't blame AAA for your mistake. It takes less than 30 minutes when you go there, even if you have 2 people getting IDP's who both have to get pictures made.

Depending on your rental agency, be aware that if the primary driver is not the person who paid for the car, there may be an extra charge. That little wrinkle hit us with Europcar in France in 2012. Lessons hard learned...

Glad it will work out with minimal adjustment. It is far better to be safe than sorry; and renting three different cars just increases your various risks if you don't have one.

Insurance companies won't pay claims if they don't have to, and if you are driving without the proper documentation and get in an accident, they don't have to pay out because you have broken the law.

As the prior poster said, that's not necessarily true. It depends on the language of the applicable policies.

No insurance company is going to settle a claim if the claimant has broken the law in the process. This thread is about driving in Greece. Greek Law requires the IDP. An American driving in Greece will be paying by credit card. That credit card bank's Insurance Claims Department will reject any claim submitted if the claimant was driving illegally in Greece without the required IDP. As for any locally-added insurance, if the police are involved because of an accident you can rest assured that liability claims will be made against the person at fault and if it is discovered that they don't have an IDP they might even be detained until they come up with the money required to fix the cars involved if they aren't covered by insurance.

Even though the OP's issue has been resolved, I will respond to Lee.

It is entirely possible that an insurance claim could be voided if one did not have an IDP. But it is not necessarily the case. First, an officer would have to demand to see an IDP - something that doesn't always happen. Second, the officer would have to cite one for not having the IDP. Third, that citation would have to be in the accident report that is filed with the insurance claim. Fourth, the insurance company would have to have language that their coverage is not in effect for those without a valid drivers license and/or IDP. Once can break the law driving and still have insurance coverage. Lastly, the insurance company would have to notice the issue and make a stink if it is in their fine print. These things could possibly all happen, but a blanket statement that driving without an IDP voids insurance coverage is not accurate. Nevertheless, it is taking a risk on insurance as well as the other risks of fines and/or detention.

No matter what you've been told, DO NOT go to Greece without first getting the IDP. What are you going to do if you get in an accident and don't have one when the police ask you for it, are you going to say "I don't have one because someone on an internet travel advice website told me it's OK to be here without it".......??? That will go over like a lead balloon. Remember: You'll be in a foreign country where you don't speak the language and where your rights vs. those of a local resident will be secondary, at best. Be smart. The IDP is only $15 if you bring your own 2 passport photos. No test or membership required.

Yes, sometimes it’s possible to rent a car, ATV or scooter just by showing your passport and a current drivers license. No problem.
BUT....................
If you get in an accident and don’t have the IDP you'll be in serious trouble with the Greek Police. Greek Law requires it and if you can't produce it you could possibly be detained until you come up with the cash to pay for any and all damages to the vehicles involved regardless of whose fault it is and whether or not the damages were pre-existing (especially if the other car belongs to a local seizing the opportunity to play the system!)
AND...................
Your insurance, including what your credit card supposedly provides, will be invalidated because technically you will have been driving illegally.
And in that regard I also encourage you to take out the local insurance offered when you pick up the car, as much coverage as you can get. Don't rely on the automatic insurance your credit card claims to provide you. You'll be in a foreign country and there won't be a claims adjuster handy.
Just as important: Don't take "No Problem" as a substitute for indicating on the rental acceptance form every little scratch, dent, tear, stain, crack and missing part on the vehicle, inside and out and underneath. Take photos to back up your inspection. If the rental agent resists signing off on all that you've indicated walk away and find another agency.