International Drivers' Permit in Spain?

It's not only a good idea to have an IDP for Spain, it is legally required. It doesn't matter whether the rental agency asks for it or not, if you don't have it you aren't driving legally. That can mean fines if you are stopped for any reason (including a routine checkpoint). It can mean negation of any insurance coverage if you are in an accident. That's a lot of risk for something that costs less than $20. Get it!

We rented in Madrid, at the airport, two years ago. We were not asked for our IDP. We were required to show our U.S. driver's license. That has been our experience in all countries - we've never been asked to show an IDP in order to rent.

I've never been asked for an IDP in France, and it's not required. But I do believe there are one or more European countries where it is required. You might want to check past RS postings for some info. I recall seeing something there a few months ago.

This is one of those questions where you ask --- Is it better to have and not need it or to need it and not have it. What happens if this clerk asks for it and you don't have it? For $30 it is not worth the potential head ache even if the probability is low.

Get one!! It is the law in Spain, If you want to know what can happen if you don't have one, go to the Graffiti Wall, scroll down to to 01/06/12 and read Bob Holton's experience. All the idiots who say they weren't asked for one at the rental desk forget that the clown at the rental desk is not the law, he is just someone who gets paid to rent you a car, not to tell you that you cannot legally drive in Spain without an IDP ... that's bad for business and the management will get PO'd. In 2006 when we picked up our lease car in Ialy which also requires an IDP the guy from Renault made it real plain ...No IDP, no car plus a 750 Euro late lease cancellation fee. The rental car companies are sloppy about it because rentals are a different type of transaction.

Getting the Internaitonal Drivers' Permit was zero hassle. get a passport photo, go to the local AAA office, and you are good to go. I do not remember being asked to ever show anything beyond my drivers' license when I rented last summer- but it is so easy to get one, there is no reason not to - just to be sure you have all your bases covered.