Drivers license or intl license

You can get away with renting a car in Spain with out a international drivers permit. However an IDP is required by law in Spain, when actually driving the car. If stop by the police and you cannot produce a IDP you will probably face fines of 100s of euros.

In Spain, they might ask for it at the counter when renting, likely not, but In Greece for example, the rental agencies have become very strict about it.

You don't have to answer this if you don't want to answer, but what does this mean in your post. " I didn't plan on coming to Europe and should live to rent a car." How do you not plan on coming to Europe? I also assume you are in Spain since that is where you posted. Is that correct?

It depends the car company some of them want to see an International drivers license.

The thing I don’t understand is what is the fuss about getting one is. It is about a half hour to an hour in time and something like $25 at AAA. Compared to a trip to Europe in time to plan and cost to go the IDL is negligible in both.

So I guess I just don’t get the point of worrying about it.

Of course I am maybe a bit odd. As I enjoy the build up to the trip,

I’ve never been asked for it anywhere, even when I picked up a rental, but I always have it. An IDP is required.

Threadwear - that's how I understand the question. The word live should be like or love - surely an autocorrect error. The OP, George, can't get an IDP outside his home country.

Chani, you are probably right on the I would like to rent a car. I guess I was more interested in the. "I didn't plan on coming to Europe" part. I also didn't understand the question placed on the forum. If you are already in Europe, why not just go to a rental place and ask them for a solid confirmation? Maybe I was just reading too much into the post.

I just interpreted it as sloppy phrasing. -- didn't plan on renting a car when he came to Europe but wants to now.

The short answer is that your can probably rent without an IDP but you will be driving illegal if you don't have it. Up until last year in Italy, we had never been ask to present an IDP when renting a car anywhere but Hertz at the Rome airport want to see it. Change of procedures??? Who knows.

Remember, George a couple of years ago want to be a film maker, drop out, and spent a year or so just traveling in Europe. Maybe he is actually doing it.

An IDP is not a license but a permit that interprets & verifies your license to authorities if stopped while driving.

One advantage of the International Drivers License is that it is verification that your license has not been suspended and it is in multiple languages so if you have a wreck/get stopped by the police in a remote area with no one who speaks English, the IDL will help.

It close me about $20 and took about 5 minutes at the AAA to get done.

As someone said, you don't need it until you need it.

Like chicken soup, it wouldn't hurt to have one. As mentioned before, it's very simple process at your nearest AAA office; you don't have to be an AAA member.

The OP is not in his home country and cannot obtain an IDP. Please read the whole thread.

You could get a certified translation of your license into the language of the country where you plan to drive. It is acceptable in Spain for sure, and possibly in other countries. More expensive and complicated than an IDP, but probably the only solution from outside the US.

In April I was asked to show my IDP when picking up a car in Pamplona . Pretty sure I was reading from Europe car

It has been 10 days since george posted his question and never come back so I guess he has it sorted out by now....?