International Drivers License

Our Italian legal expert, Roberto di Firenze, recently posted a translation excerpt of the Italian Motor Vehicle Code. I believe the fine for not having one was something like "up to 1600 EUR". I'll look it up.
Edit - Here it is.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/drive-without-idp-at-your-own-risk

I don't understand why so many are opposed (or seem to be) to getting this. Told my husband to just get it!

kimpfeifer, Pedantically, it depends on where your licence was issued. You don't say where you come from.

If you have an EU standard format licence (EU+EEA+Schengen Area), then that is all you need. If you have a licence from outside Europe, then yes, you do need an International Driver's Permit (not licence) to drive in Italy and many other European countrIes.
Without the IDP your licence is invalid, so you are breaking the law (fine mentioned above). Your insurance is also invalid (insurance is never valid if you are acting illegally), which can get very costly. The rental company may not bother to check if you have an IDP, but that doesn't make it legal not to have one.

I think it's $20 at AAA, $15 for members last Fall I think. You don't have to take a test - it's all paperwork, and a photo which AAA will take while you wait. If they're not busy it takes perhaps 10-15 minutes.
http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

if from the US, yes you do. Your US driver's license without this translation means nothing in Italy.
Although you technically might not be required or asked for one from the rental car agency if you get stopped by the police you MUST have one and if you don't you will get a huge fine.

kim,

The short answer to your question is "YES".

First of all, correct terminology is important. There's no such thing as an International Driver's License. What you'll need is an International Driver's Permit, which is a translation of the terms of your home D.L. and this must be used in conjunction with your home D.L. You can obtain an I.D.P. easily at any AAA / CAA office for a small fee, and they're valid for one year.

Although you may never be asked to produce an I.D.P., for the reasons articulated by previous posters it's important to have one (especially given the recent information posted by Roberto).

You don't need one to rent the car. You DO need one if you have to show it to the police. I've rented cars all over Europe, including Italy, and never bothered with an IDP. However, because of the high fines in Italy if you don't carry one, I just got mine for my trip to Sardinia next month. Why risk it?

Although it's many people's experience that they were not asked for an IDP at the rental counter in Italy, I had to show mine at Hertz in Palermo.

But whether or not you're asked at the rental counter isn't the biggest issue. If you're stopped by the police, you're required to have it, as said above.

"I don't understand why so many are opposed (or seem to be) to getting this."

I don't either, but clearly it's a thing. Some may misunderstand how easy it is; some don't want to spend any unnecessary money; some may live far from a AAA office. Those are my charitable explanations; the others I'd better keep to myself, so I don't get kicked off this board.

some people think its a gimmick, for AAA to make money selling something they've never heard of before.

OK, OK, HUBBY IS GETTING THE IDP! I agree, better safe than sorry!
thanks for all your input!

I went to Walgreen's yesterday, had my photo taken, put my International Driver's License in the mail today to AAA! I'm all set to have my very first experience driving in Italy! And it was so painless:):)