Is an International Drivers License needed it Italy?

My understanding is that Italy (and Austria) require an IDL. However, I haven't gotten one since my college days, and even when stopped by cops back when, there was no problem showing them an American DL. The IDL is supposedly just a translation anyway, and the last one I had was in French - not exactly what Austrian police study in school.

Drive safely and you should do all right; watch for speed traps, park your car and walk in large cities and be aware that cameras will handle most infractions, not the carabinieri.

i think it's better to be on the safe side and get one. they cost only about $15. there has been previous discussion about this and most people agree that you should have one.

Yes, they need an International Drivers Permit. It is required by Italian law if you are not from the EU. It costs about $15 from a AAA office.It is just a translation of your US driver's license. The only people that care in Italy are the police.

Here's a link to a big discussion recently had here about this: click

Marie,
You don't need an IDL (international driving license).

Asumming your friends have a US state license
Italian law requires you to have an IDP (International Driving Permit) which is just a translation of your license. You can get one at AAA (even if you are not a member). It will cost about $15 and you need two passport size pictures. Takes about 10 minutes. You must have your state license along with the IDP.

Do you need one. It is kinda like seatbelts, do you feel lucky?

Rented from Hertz at Villa Borghese and Avis on Via Sardegna here in Rome in the last few weeks. Booked both through autoeurope for best rates.

Upon arrival to pick up the cars, BOTH asked to see my IDP (International Driver's Permit) and my wife's as she would also be driving. It is THE LAW in Italy to have an IDP on your person, along with your original driver's license, if you are driving and not an EU citizen. Even riding our motorino, we carry ours as do our American friends.

Perhaps some agencies DO NOT check, most reputable ones do... but if you have an "incidente" or you are stopped for a violation, you will wish you had one then...

Ciao,
Ron

We just rented a car yesterday in Venice from Alamo and they asked to see my husband's IDL.

i went to aaa got it for 15$. no one ever asked for it but why not get it and save any headaches. good luck :):)

Ron has already stated this, but yes, YOU DO NEED the International drivers license.
I don't mean to sound stern, but I find it frustrating that so many people assume that it is always "anything goes" here in Italy, and then get furious when they get a ticket for some traffic violation. In Italy the police often do these random checks where they wave you over and have you pull over so they can check that you have your license and car insurance in place and up to date.
It takes 10 minutes to get the IDL and it is good for one year, and costs 15 bucks. Better safe than sorry.

You need an IDP(ermit), not an IDL(icense) ...

If you see any website advertising an "IDL," or "international drivers' license," it's a scam. They aren't legal anywhere. As others have mentioned, it's the IDP from AAA that you need.

You have to have passport pictures to get one? Don't suppose you can get all of this on line? Sigh....I live on an island without even a gas station, much less a passport picture place or a AAA.

2 photos of passport size,...so you can get them done at a photo booth or, with your computer, scan and print your passport photos. Time to make a trip into the "big city!" ;)

You can go on-line to AAA, fill in/print our IDP form and mail in with photo's and payment. No need to go to a AAA office.

http://www.aaawa.com/travel/tips_info/IDP/

Mike is correct. You can get an IDP online and by mailing in the required info.

Many people living in Italy DO RENEW their IDP even though technically this is "illegal" because after living here one year you must get an Italian Driver's License. I'm earnestly studying for mine now!

Ciao,
Ron

Yes, Italian law does require an IDP but at the same time, I have been going to Italy since 1951 and have never had any problem using my regular driver's license and passport as identification.

I'll just append here as I have to other similar threads. Italy requires an IDP. The fine for not having one is 75 Euros, payable on the spot, if a police officer chooses to penalize you. They are not licenses, so the car rental agencies don't usually care if you have one or not. In Italy you are very likely to run into random police checkpoints. That's where you could be asked for an IDP.

Well, my last comment on this subject… And I’m in full agreement with Claire. It IS THE LAW that you must have an IDP (international Driver’s Permit) and your valid US issued driver’s license on your person when driving in Italy – Period! It is required, BY LAW, that all rental agencies check that you have the proper documentation BEFORE renting you a car – Yes, it is the law, but NO they do not all do this.

Like Claire, who also lives here, I’m surprised by the tone of postings on this subject. She doesn’t want to come off stern and neither do I but I have seen this vein of conversation in other postings on this subject….

All of you are smart people and seeking information – or you would not be on this site. Yet, many of you choose not to bother to “prepare” by having the proper documentation as required by law. I guess I do not understand it. If you spend so much money and effort to come over here… why would you put your entire itinerary at risk if an automobile rental company will not lease to you because you did not get an IDP? Why would you put your entire vacation at risk if you have a fender bender … which might not even be your fault… because you did not prepare? At that point getting loud and pleading ignorance will not work – Italians, and specifically Polizia, just do not care.

You’ve seen the postings – to reiterate what you “got away with before, or they didn’t check mine (wink, wink), etc.” is just crap… Sorry, it is. Kent referred to previous postings, Claire has chimed in as someone who has live here for an extended period… I’m not sure what else can be said. Now it’s up to you!

But please, we live here – Don’t become that UGLY American when the rental company says, Sorry... or the Polizia pull you over… I hear these stories all the time and it is, as Clare says, frustrating.

For those of you who are seeking info on an IDP vs. an IDL and what's required, I hope these posts help!

Ciao,
Ron