Question: “We’re planning a trip to Italy in May and we plan to rent a car. We’ve read conflicting information about whether or not we (as US nationals) will need an international driver’s permit. What should we do?”
There’s no shortage of information out there about driving in Italy as a visitor, but the rules aren’t always made crystal clear.
For example, the official website for the US Embassy and Consulates in Italy says travelers “should obtain an International Driving Permit before leaving the US.”
But then it also says: “Tourists may also use their valid American driver’s license if accompanied by an official translation in Italian.”
So what do you actually need?
Italy’s official rules state that US nationals (and other visitors to Italy from outside of the European Union – including Canadians, but not Brits) essentially have two choices.
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“Unless your national driving licence was issued by an EU/EFTA-member state, it must be accompanied either by an international driving permit, to be obtained prior to departure, or by a certified translation (traduzione giurata) into Italian,” according to information provided in English by motoring association ACI (Automobile Club d’Italia).
In practice, most people find that getting the international driving permit (IDP) is by far the easier option.
Obtaining a certified translation into Italian of any foreign-issued document can often be quite expensive and complicated.
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ACI confims that you’ll need to get the translation from an embassy or consulate, or through a certified translator or interpreter who “will need to declare before a court registrar that the translation is a true copy of the original”.
By comparison, the process of getting hold of an IDP is straightforward. For US nationals, applying (in person or by mail) via AAA costs $20 plus tax, and the only requirements are that you are aged over 18 and already have a valid driver’s license.
AAA says an IDP will be valid for one year and you can apply up to six months before your trip.
Do I really need to get an IDP?
You may have heard that travelers don’t need to bother getting either document for a trip to Italy – some people will tell you they’ve driven on Italian roads plenty of times without being asked to show an IDP.
Anecdotally, it sounds as though most visitors to Italy are unlikely to ever be asked to produce it, although some regular visitors have told The Local that they find checks have become more frequent in recent years.
And, unfortunately, not having the required document when needed could prove problematic and expensive.
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Rental companies may ask you to show both your license and your IDP when you pick up your vehicle, though it depends on the company.
More importantly, if you get pulled over by the police in Italy (you don’t need to be doing anything wrong; random roadside checks are common) or get into a car accident, and you don’t have the permit when asked for it, you could be fined anything between 408 and 1,634 euros.
As with so many things in Italy, experiences vary enormously depending on where you go: police in each Italian region or city tend to have different priorities and often interpret and apply certain rules differently.
Considering the large fine you could end up with, we’d advise following the rules and getting your IDP if your licence was issued in the US or another country where the Italian rules specify that this is a requirement.
Even if you never need to show it to anyone, it’ll give you peace of mind and help make your trip to Italy a more relaxing experience.
Please note that The Local cannot advise on individual cases. For more details about how Italy’s road rules may apply in your circumstances, consult the Italian embassy in your country or read more about the rules on driving in Italy on the ACI website (in English).
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The UK government website says no IDP necessary for driving in Italy …
https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit#:~:text=Italy,to%20drive%20here.
So who is right? 🤔
Hi Gerry,
That’s absolutely right, no IDP is necessary for driving in Italy using a UK licence. Driving licences issued in the UK are still covered by the same rules as those from EU member states. The information in this particular article is intended mainly for people with driving licences issued in the US. We’ll amend it to make that clearer.
Thanks for reading,
– Clare
It is a cheap ‘insurance policy’. I have been from USA to Italy every year since 1996, so I am about to get my 27th one. I think I’ve had to use it five times in roadside checks. In the past I rented cars without showing it. Now it’s a regular requirement.
In 25 years of travelling to Italy I’ve actually never needed to show an IDP. But I still get one every year because it’s easy and cheap, and the risk, although low, is not zero.