car rental, need international driver permit

You should get one. You may or may not be asked for it. Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

I was asked for mine when I rented a Vespa.

They are really easy to get. I went to my local AAA office and was in and out in about 30 minutes. I thought they would mail it to me, but I left with the license in my hand.

Required by Italian law. Some rental companies need to see it, some don't.

It’s about 20 bucks
Required by law and the rental agencies ask for it
( it was the first thing Avis asked for when we rented in May)

That's a question that always pop up in this forum.

An IDP is required by the Italian Motor Vehicle Code from those who don't have a driver's license issued by a European State (see below).

The rental agency may or may not ask for it. However if you get pulled over (or if in an accident) failure to present the IDP to authorities may result in a fine as illustrated below.

I got mine (like every year) last week. I entered the AAA office at 4pm, I was out at 4:10pm. It took me that long because I didn't have two passport photos so they have to take those for me (for an additional $9). There is a very simple form to fill, which you can fill there or even prepare at home after downloading it from the AAA website, if you want to save an additional 60 seconds at the AAA office. Here is the form. The cost is $20 (if you already have your 2 passport photos, otherwise you need an extra $9)

ITALIAN MOTOR VEHICLE CODE - Art 135
Art . 135. Circulation with driver’s licenses issued by foreign states
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of the international conventions, the holders of a driver’s license issued by a non -EU Member State or the European Economic Area may drive the vehicles for which they are licensed in the Italian national territory, provided that they are not residents in Italy for more than a year and provided that they also carry an international permit or an official translation into Italian of their home country license. Driver's license and international permit must be current and valid.
[…]
8. The holder of a driver’s license issued by a State outside the European Union or the European Economic Area that drives a vehicle within the Italian national territory without the international permit or an official translation, as referred to in paragraph 1, is subject to an administrative fine ranging from 408 Euro to 1,634 Euro.

If you are a member of AAA, the photos are free.

No Tom
We always get an IDP because it is required by Italian law

But if no one points it out, then nothing will change.

I have doubts that anyone in the Italian Parliament is reading the posts here.

Tom, Until you go to Rome and get the law changed to authorize 'formatted like an EU license', vs the current law ( as noted in Roberto's post), a US driver license is not valid as the law is currently written.

While your comments about your hatred of and disdain the IDP may not be a clear violation of Rule 7, I think they are a dis-service and could be misleading to some who are in search of 'what is the law'.

No, you are approaching the situation with idealism "My license matches the format of a euro license so it should be the same"

"What is needed to convey to anyone in Europe, law enforcement or the public manning car rental stations, what they need to know?"

What they need is a booklet that says International Driving Permit on the top. That is the requirement of the law. Unless you've got that your little provincial driver's license means oogatz to them

As others have said, it is really easy to get. My husband and I always get them, even though he does the driving. I get mine in case he gets sick, or hurt, or whatever and can't drive. For the amount of money spent on a trip, the few $ spent on a permit is trivial.

I don't think photos are free for AAA members, at least not in California. I had to pay $9, and I'm a member.

I took square portrait photos of myself and my wife on a smartphone and used a free app to combine six 2x2 borderless photos into one 4x6 photo. Printed it out at a CVS for .79 cents and cut it up. We are now ready for three years of IDPs.

AAA. inexpensive and easy.
Why take a chance?

The first time we rented a car from Europcar in the MXP airport, we didn't have an IDP. Rick says he never bothers to get his, so we didn't bother either. It all worked out fine (fortunately). But then I read here that someone who rented from Avis was asked for it. We're renting a car this summer from the Avis in Stresa, so I told my husband to get his IDP (he always drives; I can't drive a manual). It was so incredibly easy - we mailed in our application and passport photos since the closest AAA is about 45 minutes from our house. The IDP was mailed back to us about 2 weeks later. Since it was so cheap and easy, we'll be sure to get it in the future.

It is also my understanding that if you are involved in a traffic accident without an IDP, then you are technically driving illegally, so the penalties may be significantly more even if not your fault. I do not have a source for this information, but I wouldn't want to find this out the hard way.

Driving without an IDP may also invalidate your insurance should anything happen and you need to file a claim

I just checked our confirmation letter from Autoeurope for our upcoming rental. In bold, all caps with IMPORTANT!-International Driving Permit Now Required in Italy is right at the top of the confirmation.