need for international driver's license in Italy??

Boy, has this issue been covered a lot! IMO, despite the fact that it is worthless, pay the fee for the peace of mind. AAA has the best prices around here.

Nancy,

You don't need an IDL (international driving 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 $10 and you need two passport size pictures. Takes about 10 minutes. You must have your state license along with the IDP.
It is kinda like seatbelts. Do you need them? Do you feel lucky?

You have opened up a can of worms, ha.

I have driven in Italy on six different trips without an IDL. I have been through a road block, set up by the carabinieri (sp?) and my husband has been stopped by the police for going the wrong way down a one-way street (there was road construction going on in the little town where we were staying and we didn't know how else to get to where we needed to be). My husband didn't have an IDL either.

We weren't asked about an IDL on either occasion. Foolhardy? Probably, but I never think to apply for the IDL before I leave. And, our experience makes me wonder how necessary it is.

First, it is an international driver PERMIT (IDP), not an international driver license. Second, it is officially REQUIRED in Italy; but, as others have said, you probably can get by without it. The car rental agency will want proof that you have a US driver license and probably won't even ask if you have an IDP. It is, again as others have said, simply a translation of the pertinent information on your driver license into several languages. Still, if I wAS in an accident or was stopped by the Italian police, I'd be glad that I had one.

An IDP is required. I know people have driven without one and have been stopped by police that never asked to see an IDP. However for $10 wouldn't you rather have peace of mind?