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International Driving Permit in Italy?

post #1 of 13
8/16/10 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 
I'm headed to Italy for two weeks, the latter of which will require a rental car. I stumbled upon a website indicating that a 300 Euro fine is payable on the spot when foreigners are caught driving without the aforementioned permit.

I've rented cars in Europe, including Italy, every summer for many years without incident. However, I've never been pulled over. (Indeed, the police in Italy seemed singularly unconcerned with driving infractions.)

Apparently, the IDP is just a translated version of your regular license and can be obtained by the Automobile Association in your home country. But it requires paperwork, a small fee, passport pictures, etc. --- the kind of minutia no-one wants to bother with five days before heading to Europe.

Plus, I haven't found any car rental website that asks for it or even mentions it.

So: urban legend or true?
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post #2 of 13
8/16/10 at 7:33pm
easy enough to go to AAA and get one. What it does is basically translate your regular license. I think it was 15$.

I didn't get pulled over, but almost a YEAR later, I got a ticket in my mail for speeding and getting snagged by the cameras. ~400.
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post #3 of 13
8/16/10 at 7:42pm
Yup= we went the AAA route. Pretty fast and easy if I recall.
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post #4 of 13
8/17/10 at 8:13pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you, gents. I got one today at my local CAA office: $29 (including photo).
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post #5 of 13
8/18/10 at 4:15am
In 8 years in Italy, with a couple of street spot checks, I have never had any problem with my old-style, pink paper licence (before the UK introduced two part photo card type). The cops just unfolded it (like a fold up map) , looked bewildered then gave it back telling me to continue.

On the rental front, last year I rented through Hertz (IIRC) in Siena. For this I obtained a International Driving Permit, which requires a photo, and is valid for one year. I did this because the rental web site said it was necessary. Did they request it when I came to rent? Of course not. Maybe Italy factors here...
Anyway, don't risk it. I paid £5.
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post #6 of 13
8/18/10 at 1:18pm
In my experience, your good ole US driver's license will do. My experience upon getting stopped:

Cop (in very thick, nearly incomprehensible accent): Where is this?

Me: North Carolina.

Cop: Eh?

Me: North Carolina, Stati Uniti.

Cop: North Carolina?

Me: si

Cop: Non U.E.?

Me: No, no.

Cop: Ah, prego, prego.

Hands me license, off I go.
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post #7 of 13
8/19/10 at 8:38am
Just spent awhile driving a rental. No one ever asked for an IDP, although I had one.
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post #8 of 13
8/19/10 at 8:55am
According to the US Embassy in Italy, you do require an IDP:

http://italy.usembassy.gov/acs/general-driving.asp


Quote:
DRIVING IN ITALY

Americans visiting Italy as tourists and intending to drive should obtain an International Driving Permit before leaving the U.S.

If the permit expires while abroad, you may apply for a new one by mail through the American Automobile Association (AAA), Worldwide Travel Dept., 1000 AAA Dr., Heathrow, FL 32746, tel. (407) 444-7000, fax (407) 444-7380.

Tourists may also use their valid American driver's license if accompanied by an Italian translation issued by one of the following offices of the Italian Automobile Club (ACI):

ACI (Rome office) - via Marsala 14a - Tel: 06-4998-2496
ACI (Naples office) - piazzale Vincenzo Tecchio 49d - Tel: 081-725-3811
Americans registered as residents with the local Vital Records Bureau (known as Anagrafe) must apply for an Italian license within one year of the date of registration.

Unfortunately, there is no agreement for reciprocal recognition of drivers' licenses between the United States and Italy. The Italian Ministry of Transportation has determined that bearers of U.S. driver's licenses cannot obtain an Italian license directly in exchange for a domestic one. Interested individuals must comply with the usual requirements prescribed for obtaining an Italian license, (a written test, a driving test, a medical examination, and pertinent documents).
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post #9 of 13
8/19/10 at 9:03am
Italy doesn't have laws, they have suggestions.
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post #10 of 13
8/19/10 at 10:51am
Absolutely no need for an IDP in Italy. No police will ever pull you over for a driving infraction, and if they do, you can easily argue your way out of any problem. Additionally, if you are there 30 days or less, there is ABSOLUTELY no need. Driving cameras, on the other hand, dole out massive fines, so careful on speed (although keeping it under 130kph ~ 85mph should be okay in most places).
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post #11 of 13
8/19/10 at 4:14pm
I was always told (perhaps incorrectly) that most foreign countries will honor US drivers licenses (which is why you see some Europeans come over to the US to get their drivers licenses much more easily/cheaply than the expensive and extensive process in Europe) but that if your license is taken away for some infraction, they will take away an IDP instead of your American one. Could be totally off base here.
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post #12 of 13
8/19/10 at 5:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex C View Post
I was always told (perhaps incorrectly) that most foreign countries will honor US drivers licenses (which is why you see some Europeans come over to the US to get their drivers licenses much more easily/cheaply than the expensive and extensive process in Europe) but that if your license is taken away for some infraction, they will take away an IDP instead of your American one.

Could be totally off base here.

You heard incorrectly here. The IDP is NOT a license to drive a car in a foreign country. It merely serves as a TRANSLATION of your license, and in fact, is only valid when presented with a valid driver's license. Alone it means nothing. Hence, they will take both away if they wish to take your license.
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post #13 of 13
8/20/10 at 10:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by EBugatti View Post
You heard incorrectly here. The IDP is NOT a license to drive a car in a foreign country. It merely serves as a TRANSLATION of your license, and in fact, is only valid when presented with a valid driver's license. Alone it means nothing. Hence, they will take both away if they wish to take your license.

Many cops got no clue about this though and thus you can give them your IDP and request a new one. Can save lots of bribes in Russia...
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