International Drivers License

It is an International Drivers Permit and it is mandatory in Italy. You probably won't be asked for it when you pick up a rental car, but if there is some sort of incident and you don't have one it will be a problem for you. To save $20 hardly seems to be worth it.

The IDP is available at any AAA. You do not need to be a member to get one.

What you would actually need, if you will be driving, is an International Drivers Permit (not a license, the name can cause some confusion). You can acquire this at AAA and it acts as an addition (a translation, really) to your drivers license, which you still need. If you think you'll be driving - yes, do purchase one. If you won't be, then skip the cost.

Just to be sure we are clear from the above postings. You must have both your US driver's license and the International Drivers Permit. The permit is a translation of your current drivers license into several languages so that the police officer does not have any problem in understanding that you have a valid, US driver's license.

It's not only worth it, it's mandatory. The fine for not having one if you're caught will make the $20 look like chump change. Not worth the risk.

I am assuming that you will be driving in Italy. If so, you need the IDP and your US drivers license.
If you are sure you will not be driving, you don't need an IDP. but still might want to take your license if you need to leave an ID somewhere, for instance if you are borrowing a museum's equipment for an audio tour, and don't want to leave your passport for this. Last trip I actually took along an old expired license just for this purpose and it worked just fine at least twice (Borghese in Rome and Peggy Guggenheim in Venice).

i got my IDP at my local AAA office for $15 in a few minutes. Even talked my way into a free orange Giants cap during my stop, probably worth $15 itself. Probably no Giants caps available up there in WA. The IDP also requires you to provide 2 passport photos. My AAA could take 2 for an additional $15, but the kind AAA staff had guided me to go to Costco to get 4 photos for $5, which then also served for my passport renewal.

all good answers. Definitely get the IDP before you go.

As the others have said, it would be a really good idea to pack along an I.D.P. since it's mandatory in Italy. You'll probably never be asked to produce the permit but if you're ever involved in an "incidente stradale" and can't produce one, you could be fined on the spot!

You may find it helpful to have a look at THIS website for some good information on I.D.P's.

Thank you! I had no idea it was mandatory.

You might save a few bucks by bringing your own passport-style pictures needed to go in the IDP. At AAA they charged me $7 to take my photo, and $15 for the permit. I don't know if this was a discount for being a AAA member.

That was the same rate AAA charged me and I am not a member.

Years and years ago, I download a program called PassportPhoto. And thus every time I needed a passport, visa, or IDP photo over the years, I simply printed them out at home on photo paper and carried the photos with me to the post office, the AAA agency, the immigration office overseas, etc. It's been a valuable resource for me and might save you some money. I am sure there are plenty of other programs like this available on the web for both Windows and Apple users. I believe CNET used to have a free version of this program (I bought mine for under $8 years ago).

Like Ron, I use my own photo software. I make sure I follow the State Department requirements for the sizing of your face, blank background, neutral look, etc (and the State Dept's website has a tool online to get your face to be the right dimensions in the 2x2 image). Then you can put that 2x2 image onto a 4x6 print up to six times, print it out for 10 cents at Walgreens. Much, much cheaper than having the Post Office, AAA or anyone take the pictures for you.

I don't know if someone has mentioned it, but you will need two passport sized photos. One for the permit and one for their records.

And if you take in someone else's license to get their IDP (like your wife), make sure that person has signed the back of the photos with the same name as on their driver's license. AAA will often let you "sign" the IDP later... but they want a signature on the photos...

You don't necessarily need to be in an accident to have to show it either. There's always a chance you could run across a random checkpoint and have to show it. If you see someone in uniform holding up a little red round sign at you on the side of the road (we used to call them the lollipop kids) that means pullover and produce your paperwork.

My wife was pulled over by a " lollipip kid" on the road to San Gimignano. After he determined we could not speak Italian and that we were from America, he waved us on. We did not have to produce any papers. I think we were lucky. We did have an IDP though. We were not aware of any offense we had committed. So may have been a random check.