Driver's license in Italy?

David,

Yes, you'll also require the compulsory International Driver's Permit. This provides a translation of the terms of your home D.L. and must be used with your normal D.L.

You can obtain the I.D.P. at reasonable cost at any AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required). While most people don't have any problems driving only with their normal license, failure to produce an I.D.P. if requested can result in fines on the spot!

You may wish to have a look at This information provided by the U.S. State Department, especially the part which states "If the citizen does not or cannot pay the fine at the time, Italian regulation allows the police officer to confiscate the offender’s vehicle (even if the vehicle is a rental vehicle)".

Also note the section pertaining to "ZTL" areas. There's lots of information here on the HelpLine on that subject. For more information, also have a look at The Italian Tourism website (which also contains a section on Driving license regulations).

Happy travels!

You will need an International Driving Permit. It can be obtained at any local AAA office. The cost is less than $25. It is good for a year from the issue date. For driving in Italy, I recommend that you purchase a GPS with European maps pre-installed. I use a Garmin NUVI (Garmin.com). Learn to use it and program it before you leave.

Ken,

Could the requirements for an IDP have changed?

I looked all over your link and could find nothing about it although I recall it being there a long while ago, I think.

I also looked at this:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1146.html

and it appears that the operative word is "should" rather than "must", "shall", "will", etc.

Also, in line with what When says, and as I related somewhere here a few weeks ago, a few months ago at a roadblock I inadvertently handed an Italian police officer my concealed weapon permit which he "examined" and handed back without bringing up the question of an IDP.

Being cheap, and not having had one for twenty years, I really don't want to go back to buying these things which nobody ever wanted to see for the twenty some years before that. Plus, the scoundrels self-expire in a year now.

Ironically, many of the Italian police don't even know that Americans need this...I was once told by a police officer that Americans had up to 2 years to drive with their American license, at which point they had to either get an italian license or not drive.
That said, I wouldn't risk it! IDP is easy and cheap to get :)

Technically, you don't "need" an IDP, per se, in Italy. What you DO need is a recognized translation of your driver's license into Italian. The Automobile Club of Italy will issue such translations if you visit one of their offices and present your license....or you can go to the nearest AAA/CAA office and get an IDP.

Okay, one more step: if I speak the language well enough to have been batting the breeze about nothing in particular with the aforementioned fuzz and translating for Herself with her endless stream of questions at the same time, would that count. Or what if I wrote it down and only screwed up a couple of misspellings or accent marks?

I know it's a stretch, but I'm really cheap and twenty-five bucks fits in my pocket better than AAA's.

I guess what my question is: Does anybody actually know anybody else that's been hammered on this or is it just an urban semi-myth?

Ed,
See http://www.italiantourism.com/transp.html about halfway down the page.

There has been much discussion on this topic, not only on RS boards but many others as well. I always get an IDP but have never been asked for one although I did offer one to a French Policeman one time which he used to write me a ticket. Below are some links on discussions on this topic as well as a one to an article. The link to the article is about an incident in Spain not Italy. Italy may not be as harsh to violators as is Spain. Draw your own conclusions as to what to do. I have never had my pocket picked but I always wear a money belt. Never had a wreck while traveling but always have insurance. Gives me a peace of mind.

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=13774

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187895-i68-k3424264-l24547751-International_Driving_Permit-Florence_Tuscany.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187893-i67-k2279670-International_drivers_permit-Tuscany.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/31/AR2007083100471.html

Ed,

I don't believe the requirements for an IDP have changed. An I.D.P. is not a license per sé, but provides a translation of your home D.L., which is what is mentioned in the second link I provided in my earlier post (which is the "official" Italian Tourism site).

While you could certainly have the translation done when you arrive in Italy, I find it much easier to just obtain an I.D.P. before leaving home, as that's one less detail to worry about, and the cost is quite reasonable. The I.D.P. also includes a handy chart showing the different road and parking signs, which I find useful.

Cheers!

David, we rented a car in Italy in July and had to produce the IDP at the rental agency before we could rent the car. Not sure what would have happened if we didn't have it, but for about $15 IMO it's not worth the hassle of finding out.

I know we discuss this all the time -- Do I really need it?? Of course, you do. This is the difference between a Type 1 error and a Type 2 error. If you need it and don't have it == Maybe a big problem. If you have it and don't need it --- No problem. You decide which way you want to error.

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Sounds best to just get the IDP..

Thanks Again,
David

My husband always gets one at AAA before we leave home. Have been asked for it several times when renting a car in France and Italy. Don't know what would happen if we didn't have one.

Just spent a month driving all over Italy and Sicily. We were not asked at the rental car office for an International driving permit. We were stopped by the police in Corleone (of all places)! They asked "Italiani"? and we said "No, Americani" and they waved us on.
We had no problems without one, but it seems it could become an issue in certain situations.
If it is easy to get then it's probably a good idea.