international driving permit question

It is always good to have the IDP regardless of requirements. In the US, AAA is the authorized issuer of IDP. Anything on the internet is a scam.

As to renting mopeds -- unless your are experienced moped riders in the US, first time experience with mopeds or scooters is not the smartest move in Europe. What are the ages of the teenagers? While it looks easy riding scooters on the island it can be quite dangerous for an inexperience rider. I would advise against it.

Just get it at a AAA. Many people will post here that you don’t need it, they’ve never been asked for it. It’s so cheap, just get it. You don’t want to have a huge hassle if the Italian or Greek police ask for it and you don’t have it.

For the car driver I would get the International Drivers License. They are not required on the islands for scooters or ATVs.
We rented an ATV on Santorini.

The International Drivers Permit (IDP) - correct name and spelling - is legally REQUIRED in both Italy and Greece. It is a supplement to your regular drivers license; you must carry both. My experience in Greece is that the rental agencies do require it to rent as well. Only AAA is authorized to issue the IDP for US residents.

As mentioned in the previous post, an IDP is absolutely required for both Italy and Greece. As I recall, I was asked to produce the permit when I've rented in Greece. Even if you're not asked, if you were ever involved in a motor vehicle incident and don't have an IDP, your holiday will become a very bad memory.

You may find this information from the U.S. State Dept. to be helpful -https://gr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/driving-in-greece/ . This paragraph is especially important.....

"If a U.S. tourist in Greece is stopped by traffic police and is found to drive without the proper documentation (valid U.S. license together with International Driving Permit or, Greek Driving license, if he/she has exceeded 6 months of stay in Greece) the U.S. citizen may be arrested and face trial."

By all means get an IDP for every member of your party who may be driving. Beyond the fines that may be imposed for not having one, there is the little publicized issue of what happens if you have an accident. Without an IDP, you are an unlicensed driver and your insurance can be declared invalid leaving you holding the bag. If a AAA office is not convenient, you can go on their website and if you look long enough, you will find a way to get it from them by mail for a few bucks more.

As for the mopeds, it's a very bad idea for the inexperienced mopped driver. They are very twitchy little beggars to operate on good pavement and worse on bad pavement. As a Lawyer I know told his son about getting a motorcycle, "Remember, a car is steel wrapped around you but a motorcycle is you wrapped around steel." The same goes for mopeds in spades.