During my last trip to Europe, May 2017, I rented a Sixt Rental Car in Paris drove in France, Belgium, and Holland and was not asked not did I have a "International Driving Permit".
This next trip May 2018, I went with a broker and they directed me to a Sixt Rental Car location in Salzburg and in the fine print it states that I need to present an International Driving Permit.
Does anyone out there have any suggestions or experience with getting and using this International Driving Permit?
You need one in Austria. Easy and inexpensive to get from AAA. I always get one when I’ll be driving in Austria.
We purchased one for our trip to Spain in September, even though we were never asked to show it when we rented the car. I think in some places, you will only need it if you get in an accident or get a ticket, and if you don't have it, you may be in trouble. It only costs about $35 at AAA, including letting them take the picture for you. It took me all of 15 minutes - they hand it to you right then and there so you don't wait for snail mail like with a passport. Given how much you are likely spending on the trip overall, the cost is worth it. Have fun!
What the car rental company says is irrelevant. For non-EU licences an IDP is a legal requirement in some countries, for example France, Italy, Austria.
If you are stopped by the police, and do not have an IDP and your original licence, you are breaking the law and guilty of driving without a valid licence. So, unless you want a fine and criminal conviction, get one.
This is very simple -- Two choices -- would you rather have it and not need it OR would you rather not have it if you needed it? Some people like to gamble or like myself - engineers who like back up and redundancy. Skip it and then you can return and brag how you didn't need it. Save twenty bucks.
PS There is also possibility that if you don't have it and are stopped by the police, they can impound the vehicle because you don't have a legal right to drive it. We had a posting here a couple years ago from someone in Italy who had that situation and only with extreme begging and pleading did he get the officer to back off the impoundment.
You need an IDP in Austria. It only takes a few minutes and a few dollars at AAA. If you cannot get to an AAA office, I noticed a while back that on their web site they do have a way you can get one by mail. No doubt the mail process is much more inefficient than stopping. A few years ago I contacted the Austrian Tourist Office on this subject and their reply included the phrase, "only a fool would drive in Austria without an IDP because the financial liabilities are unlimited, if you have an accident."
The people at the rental desks are not the police. They are paid to rent cars and since they have YOU by the CREDIT CARD they are not the least but worried about the costs of retrieving an impounded vehicle ... they will be paid.
We lease, and the leasing companies are more stringent on honoring the law. On our first trip to Italy when we picked up our ca at the Malpensa Airport, the guy was very straight forward: No IDP, no car and there would have been a $750 fee for last minute lease cancellation. ( The people in at CDG are much more subtle about it.) Fortunately I had paid no attention to Rick's chatty line about it may be the letter of the law but he has driven lots of time without one ... funny how a 'journalist' can encourage a reader to break the law.
This is what Rick says on his web page concerning IDP:
"It's a good idea to get one if you'll be driving in Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, or Spain — countries where you're technically required to carry a permit, since you could be fined if found without one. If all goes well, you'll likely never be asked to show this permit — but it's a must if you end up dealing with the police."
Do you want to gamble?
Thanks for all the input. I am going to AAA to get one. Sounds like it well worth the $20 and some extra planning and time spent.
rj,
It's good to hear that you've decided to obtain an I.D.P. for your trip. As previously mentioned, it is compulsory in some countries and not having one could cause you some serious problems (as well as a hefty fine). There was a post here on the forum not too long ago from someone who was asked for an I.D.P. at a rental agency in Italy. They didn't have one, so the rental was cancelled and they had to find "alternate transportation".
To reiterate a few points and mention a few others....
