Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Italy?

An international driving permit in Italy is required by law if you plan to operate a vehicle in Italy - whether you're renting a car in Italy or booking an international rental which will take you briefly across the Italian border. Once you arrive in Italy you will be ineligible to obtain the license, so it is important that you do so before departing on your trip. We recommend that you apply for an IDP at least one month before you need it to give AAA or AATA time to process and deliver your IDP for your trip to Italy.

Why Obtain an International Driving Permit in Italy

Your international drivers permit in Italy is good in any city in the country, whether you are headed to Sicily or Geneva or one of the country's other glorious places to visit. The application is good for a period of one year after the date of issuance, so you can travel any time within this period and have a valid international license.

There are quite a few reasons why you should apply for the international drivers permit in Italy or elsewhere in Europe. Here are three of the most important reasons we think this is important:

1. First, it is required by law that you have an international driver's license in Italy. If you are stopped while driving within Italian borders, you will be asked to present this special license. If you are not in possession of the license, there could be serious consequences for you to face.
2. Secondly, many rental car agencies require that you present your international license when you rent a car, including Auto Europe and most of our trusted suppliers. What could be worse than arriving in Italy without your license and being unable to rental car? It certainly could put a damper on your holiday travel plans.
3. You will also find the international license to make life easier if you are pulled over or happen to be involved in a fender-bender while touring Italy. The license translates all of the information from your domestic license, making it easy for authorities to determine who you are and get you on your way. When traveling in an unfamiliar area it is likely that you will be stopped, so make sure that you are prepared and that your Italian vacation won't be delayed.

How to Obtain an International Drivers Permit for Italy Travel

If you need to obtain an international driver's license for a trip to Italy, make sure that you do so well in advance. It can take up to six weeks to process your application and provide the license and even longer if you are applying online. To obtain the international license, several steps must be completed.

First, you need to determine where you will obtain your license. It is recommended that you use only AAA (www.aaa.com) or the AATA (aataidp.com) for your license. Other agencies may offer the international license, but it is likely they will charge far more than needed for the license.

You must complete an application for the license, and present your original license as well as two passport photos to obtain the license. You can complete these steps in person or online by submitting your application.

If you have further questions concerning the international driver's license in Italy, give us a call toll-free. Our agents can be reached at 1-888-223-5555, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. We can make your travels easy!