Using a Mexican Drivers License to rent a car

carla, your situation is certainly not a common one. Or maybe somebody here has experienced what you are looking at. Have you contacted the Mexican IDP issuer? My husband does the driving these days on Europe trips. Our AAA office (now an hour-and-a-half away, but only 10 minutes away when I lived in the Denver area) snaps two photos of my husband (I think he could otherwise bring in his own passport-sized photos), keeps one and glues the other into the IDP booklet, and hand-writes details into the booklet off of his Colorado driver license, all in person. I wonder if the Mexican office would accept an image of your license that you would mail (fax? scan and e-mail? or …?), plus 2 passport-sized photos that you would provide? Or is there a local office (policia?) that could assist? Or the office of the congressional U.S. Representative for where you used to live? They’re supposed to support U.S. citizens from their district! They should be able to come up with a way to help, even if it means involving a consulate that could work with you remotely, and not requiring a 14-hour round trip visit. I hope one of these would work.

You have a decision to make. Having an IDP is advisable. It is a translation of your drivers license. I do not know whether or not a rental agency will ask to see it, but if stopped the local police will require it as proof that you have a valid license. Remember they will not likely understand Spainish.

Good luck

https://takemetogreece.com/international-drivers-license-greece/

Read through the above. Mexico is NOT an exempt country for the IDP requirement.

There is mention of an organization that might be a solution to your problem. I have no knowledge of it other than what is in the article.

Some info for Croatia here--- https://www.frankaboutcroatia.com/driving-in-croatia/

Just what I found doing a search; use as you see fit.

Good luck

edited to update: I was contacted by a car rental agency in Athens, at they verified that my Mexico license will suffice (at least for them). YMMV

Hopefully that person is on duty when you are there to pick up the car.

car rental agency in Athens, at they verified that my Mexico license will suffice (at least for them)

Well then, you don’t actually need the IDP unless a police officer wants to see yours. But if that happens, you’ll REALLY need it.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) was previously required in Greece, it is no longer necessary for US drivers to have one to drive legally. A valid US driver's license is sufficient. Some rental car companies may still request an IDP, but it's not a legal requirement

An International Driving Permit (IDP) was previously required in Greece, it is no longer necessary for US drivers to have one to drive legally. A valid US driver's license is sufficient. Some rental car companies may still request an IDP, but it's not a legal requirement

True, but the individual does not have a US drivers license, thus the issue.