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International Drivers License in Croatia

Posted by on

Hi everyone,

I searched the forums for a recent answer on this topic and did not find one, so....

My husband and I leave on Monday for Europe. We have always rented cars when we travel in Europe, and would always get the international drivers license at AAA. We've never been asked for it, and last year we didn't even bother getting one for our travel in Germany.

This year my job has been particularly intense, and to be honest, the IDL just slipped my mind (and my husband is the kind who would never bother to get the thing if I didn't always insist). It's Friday and we're leaving on Monday but we will actually be at an event all weekend with our teenagers that will keep us from any pre-trip planning. Ugh. Time just slipped away from me...

We'll be in Scotland (not worried about needing it there), Croatia, one day in Montenegro, and Italy. Will be driving in all of those places. Have any of you rented cars in Croatia or Italy recently (say, in the past year) and been required to have it?

I know, I know...we're bad Rick Steves travelers right now, so please withhold your judgment on the last minute nature of all of this...LOL

Thanks!

Posted by
5511 posts

The rental car agencies don't ask for it. The police do.

Posted by
2768 posts

Police require it but ive never had the rental agency ask including in Italy last month. Get one if at all possible because what if you are in an accident and need it. If you really can't get one in time, do you have an expired one lying around? I wonder if, in a pinch, an expired one combined with your non-expired US license would help. On one hand that might net you a ticket for having an expired permit, but on the other hand it might give the officer the information he needs. The IDP is usually used as a tool so that the officers can get the proper information in a standard format, regardless of the language on your actual license, right?

Just guessing here, I have always gotten the permit but have never been stopped by police or involved in an accident so have never needed to provide it.

Posted by
33851 posts

Italy it is an absolute must. Can you collect them on your way to the airport?

Posted by
343 posts

Thanks, everyone. These are really good points. We are going to try to squeeze in a stop at AAA this afternoon to get it. Will definitely get it on Monday before we leave if not possible today. Thanks for impressing upon me the urgency. That's why I love these boards!!!

Posted by
224 posts

We rented a car in Croatia in 2014, and the rental agency asked to see it.

Posted by
5511 posts

Again, the problem is not with the rental agency, it is with the police.

Posted by
2916 posts

the problem is not with the rental agency, it is with the police.

Normally, yes; I've never been asked for one at a rental agency in France. On the other hand, if the rental agency asks for it (see the prior comment as to Croatia) and you don't have it, that could mean the end of any chance of getting a car.

Posted by
2734 posts

Yes, I will confirm our rental agency in Dubrovnik asked for it. And it came in handy when I got caught in a speed trap in Montenegro!

Posted by
11294 posts

I agree that whether or not a rental agency asks to see it is not relevant to whether or not it is required. However, it is always said that rental agencies in Italy don't ask to see it, but Hertz in Palermo definitely did!

Posted by
4535 posts

For the people you post that rental agencies don't ask for it, that is simply NOT true and very poor advice. Some rental agencies in some countries do not ask for it. But people here posted that they WERE asked for it in Croatia. I personally needed an IDP to rent a car in Greece. So please DO NOT post that rental agencies do not ask or require it.

And if the IDP is required, that is a government law and mandate. Driving without one, even if the rental agency doesn't ask for it, means you are at risk of a fine or worse.

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