Alert to travelers! Italy is "requiring" an IDP to rent a car now. Previously, it was not required, maybe legally required but never asked for. Now, Hertz and Sixt both require you to show your IDP to get a car. In the State of Washington, you used to be able to pop into a AAA office and get your IDP within 1/2 hour. I last got one for Croatia, based on Rick's advice, in 2022 at the Bellevue AAA office. AAA WA no longer HAS ANY OFFICES other than insurance, they said "due to COVID". There is no way to get a "same day" IDP in this state. You can only get your IDP online. I submitted my application online, with expedited shipping, and received a note back that it takes 5 business days. My trip was in 9 business days, so I reached out to the email address provided after submitting my order (please note the AAA website has no email or phone # available, other than the general phone #, which I tried, was on hold 30+ minutes, then disconnected.) to request assistance. The person with whom I corresponded told me "we have plenty of time" and said she would call me so I could drive to their secure (not a public office) office in Bellevue and pick up before my trip. I did not receive a call after 7 business days, and drove to Portland from Seattle the day before my trip to get an IDP in person. The night before my trip, I then received an email stating that the IDP had been Fed_Ex'd to me and would arrive the day after I left. This was an awful experience and completely unnecessary had I known the in person option was no longer available in WA. I don't know who granted AAA WA the sole authority to issue these permits, a monopoly with absolutely no customer service or care. If you have a similar experience, LMK as I am going to bat against AAA WA for this complete blow off of one of its prized services.
Posted by
Green Bay
22786 posts
AAA is not the sole issuer in the US. AATA (American Automobile Touring Alliance) is also an issuer.
https://www.aataidp.com/idp-steps
Posted by
The Heartland USA
9447 posts
. I don't know who granted AAA WA the sole authority to issue these permits, a monopoly with absolutely no customer service or care.
I believe it was Congress that authorized specific non-governmental agencies to be the issuers of the IDP.
As I see it, AAA is primarily a travel agency that offers this service on the side. They're likely finding themselves unable to compete in the internet era.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1412 posts
Translation: IDP takes 10 business days or more when ordered online. Plan ahead. If your trip is last-minute like OP's, consider driving to a brick and mortar AAA store (edited to add) in a neighboring AAA region.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16107 posts
"consider driving to a brick and mortar AAA store."
Well, that is just it. In WA and North Idaho (which is part of WA AAA) all the physical stores are closed.
"As of the end of regular business hours on June 27th, 2025 all physical store locations are now closed."
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
1115 posts
Have you thought about contacting the BCAA (British Columbia AA). I think they have an office in South Surrey just over the border, a couple of hours drive from the Seattle area. They are open six days a week.
Good luck!
Posted by
1562 posts
This has been a recent topic of conversation; and as listed by others there are two organizations which are authorized to issue an IDP.
From the USA.gov website: AAA and American Automobile Touring Alliance. Unfortunately, with your situation it would need to be done online.
An IDP was always required for Italy, as it is one of many countries listed on the IDP. The difference is now rental car agencies are asking to see it. I've seen other postings suggesting it is not required in France, (it also is) and we were asked by Enterprise in France to see it.
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
10321 posts
I would suggest to anyone having this problem that you write your congressperson (and/or the state department) to let them know about this issue, and ask them to broaden the IDP's providers.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7335 posts
A suggestion: Add this item to your Pre-Travel Checklist...
"Need an IDP from AAA? Get it online, don’t wait (requires minimum 10 business days)"
I just added this to mine, in the "30 days before departure" section.
(What? You don't have a Pre-Travel Checklist? I would add that to your Things I Gotta Do Today checklist....)
I happen to have a fresh-enough IDP which I picked up in the Lynnwood WA AAA office last April, as they were preparing to close, so I'm good until next Spring.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16107 posts
"What? You don't have a Pre-Travel Checklist?"
That made me laugh. I found after my last 2 trips that it is just easier to keep the Pre-Travel checklist in my suitcase. When I put it on my "packing table" (old rickety card table from the 60's, hahaha!) I pull out the check list and look at it every day. I check off things in pencil so I can erase and start over for the next trip!
Mardee, you have a good point. A few months ago I went with a friend to our nearby Staples so she could get TSA precheck. They have a person there authorized to do this a few days a week. Seems like this would be a good solution for the IDP as well as surely it's a process that is done with an app/program.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1412 posts
With all respect, Mardee, this is NOT an issue that merits congressional action. This is firmly in the category of First World Problems, Elite Niche Level.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7335 posts
Great idea to add this to the range of products and services that Staples offers. It appears the company is taking steps to try and get people in the door - in addition to TSA-Precheck and related items, they also now accept amazon returns (there's now always a long line for those in my local Staples). Doing IDPs has gotta be pretty easy compared to being deputized by TSA for handing out low-level security-clearances. Time to start asking for this next time I need ink or toner.
And it might not be appropriate for an Act of Congress, but it might actually require that (which is bat-guano crazy).
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1412 posts
We don't have Staples where I live, either. Never have.
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
10321 posts
With all respect, Mardee, this is NOT an issue that merits congressional action. This is firmly in the category of First World Problems, Elite Niche Level.
Well, that made me laugh. I’m glad to know that one of us here is an expert on congressional action. 😂
Seriously, anything that causes inconvenience to citizens can constitute congressional action. But it’s certainly not up to me, or to you, to decide that. Which is why I made the suggestion. There’s never any harm in asking.
Keep in mind that this whole board is filled with first world problems. We’re all travelers who have money to spend and can go where we want to for the most part. And there’s nothing wrong with that
Posted by
Seattle, WA
619 posts
IDP to rent a car now. Previously, it was not required, maybe legally required but never asked for. Now, Hertz and Sixt both require you to show your IDP to get a car.
I got mine on-line, at home, about a month ago. Easy to do and you take your own selfie, no trip to the store to get a passport photo. Received in mail about 2 weeks later.
This past week, SIXT in Mainz Germany only wanted to see my WA state DL and had no interest in the IDP.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6304 posts
Rather than contacting congress, you’d be better off petitioning AAA to add an expedited online service.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Great input. I honestly don't want to bother Congress with this issue, but who granted AAA the authority to issue the IDP's?? If it is a congressional issue, then they need to know that AAA WA, and apparently Idaho, have no physical offices and no means of expediting issuing an IDP. I know this was not the case when they were given this authority to issue IDPs. And no one at AAA WA cares about this, per their customer service. Too bad I didn't know about the change in in-person services, and too bad they won't do anything. They just don't care, so giving up their rights to issue should be transferred to Staples or another entity that actually provides customer service. In total, if you need an IDP via an online service, plan ahead - I recommend at least one month based on my experience, as there is absolutely nothing you can do and no one to contact if it is not delivered on time. My solution was to drive Oregon and get one in person.
Posted by
la la land...
1414 posts
I got mine on-line, at home, about a month ago. Easy to do and you take your own selfie, no trip to the store to get a passport photo.
Fred, did you use AAA or AATA?
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6304 posts
but who granted AAA the authority to issue the IDP's
The U.S. Department of State
You can see details in the Foreign Affairs Manual on State’s website here:
https://fam.state.gov/fam/07fam/07fam1430.html#:~:text=Consistent%20with%20Article%2024%20of,(See%207%20FAM%201436.)
Posted by
PNW
62 posts
We ordered ours on 8/31 and they arrived via FedEx on 9/8.
Posted by
Minneapolis
387 posts
Alert to travelers! Italy is "requiring" an IDP to rent a car now. Previously, it was not required,
Not an expert but these reported enforcements of requirements come and go and come and go. There’s never an absolutely “it’s this way” now. Especially since for many US drivers the IDP performs no function (for those from states with EU-type licenses and not needing a special endorsement like for renting a truck or motorcycle).
Posted by
the great P-NW
464 posts
Another encouraging success story here: applied for IDP on line via AAA. Hardest part was producing an acceptable head shot (too dark! Shadow behind head! not looking forward! etc) but we persevered. You get handy updates as your application moves through the system. Within a couple of days we got notice that the IDP was done and in the mail to us (chose USPS delivery for a couple extra bucks.)