Do I need an international driver’s license in Italy?

You are correct about the mixed messages. The website for the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy says you “should get an Intercontinental Driving Permit just before leaving the U.S.” But a couple paragraphs later notes “tourists may perhaps also use their legitimate American driver’s license if accompanied by an official translation in Italian.” I talked to a bunch of Italy travel gurus to sort out the guidelines.

Duncan Greenfield-Turk, taking care of director and main vacation designer for Worldwide Travel Times, told me he advises anybody who options on driving in a international country — Italy and otherwise — to get an Global Driving Permit (IDP). He also reported the guidelines for driving in Italy are clear: You ought to either have an Italian driver’s license or one particular issued by a European Union nation. If you really don’t have a single of individuals, you will need to get a IDP to have with your residence place driver’s license.

Rental auto agencies may perhaps ask you for both your U.S. license and IDP to decide up your motor vehicle, but not often, claims Rocco Giuseppe Gambardella, who owns the Amalfi Coastline culinary experiences corporation Bè Genuine Dwelling Expertise with his wife, Carla. It “depends on the motor vehicle rental organizations,” he reported, so you could under no circumstances want to existing an IDP though you’re in the state.

Which is been the scenario for American journey journalist Angel F. Castellanos, who claims he’s never had challenges obtaining rental autos or driving in Italy devoid of an IDP. Even when he’s gotten dashing tickets, “I’ve in no way experienced to current my license to a police officer,” Castellanos explained.

Simple traffic violations are captured by digicam footage, then tickets get sent to travelers afterwards. These have been dear, Castellanos warns, and arrive by the rental automobile firms who demand services expenses on major of the violation.

But in the situation you do get pulled around by Italian law enforcement or get in a car or truck accident, and you do not have the allow, you can get fined hundreds of euros. And Kathy McCabe, host of the PBS show “Dream of Italy,” states that the prerequisite has been enforced much more frequently in recent a long time.

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Fortuitously, it’s straightforward to get an IDP, McCabe says. There’s a $20 charge, moreover tax, to use for one by means of AAA and you really don’t have to acquire a written or driving test. You just want to be at minimum 18 yrs previous and have a legitimate driver’s license. In accordance to AAA, an IDP simply cannot be issued much more than 6 months in progress of your journey, but it is legitimate for a 12 months.

You can implement in individual at an AAA branch by printing and filling out this variety, publishing it with two authentic passport images and exhibiting your valid U.S. driver’s license. Or you can implement by mail by sending that similar software variety, two passport photographs every single signed on the back again, a photocopy of both equally sides of your driver’s license and the rate. If you are in a hurry, you can also pay out much more for expedited return mail services. (Far more on the process here.)

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Alternatively, as the U.S. Embassy web site pointed out, you can forgo an IDP and get your license translated into Italian — but it’s much more of a trouble than it sounds. You’ll have to get an official translation (a traduzione giurata) at a location like an embassy or consulate, or by a licensed translator or interpreter.

I’d be remiss to not incorporate a word of warning from some of my sources: Renting a motor vehicle in Italy isn’t for every person.

Since of probable “excessive expenses and site visitors problems,” Gambardella advises shoppers versus leasing a auto on trips to the Amalfi coast and southern Italy — though he added several of his consumers have rented autos devoid of any issues.

Dominique Barbeau of the private tour operator Accessibility Italy states their corporation also recommends from renting a automobile abroad. Purchasers frequently return property with a lot of visitors violations, and “at the finish it is worthy of employing a driver,” she reported. Gambardella claims you could use a taxi assistance like NCC, or take trains (Italy has a great prepare procedure) or buses.

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With that being mentioned, McCabe does recommend having a motor vehicle to examine the Salento peninsula. And getting traveled as a result of Puglia myself, I’d also lease a auto to hop concerning shorelines easily if I went again yet again.

For good evaluate, I questioned my Italian pal Vito Palumbo, CEO of the wine corporation Tormaresca, who has vineyards in Puglia. He’s 100 percent on board for tourists renting a vehicle in Italy — notably Puglia, wherever general public transportation is limited. Although parking can be bewildering, he finds it a lot less popular to get rushing tickets in the region than other areas of the country.

Must you choose to push, in addition to implementing for your IDP, down load the navigation app Waze. Castellanos states it has helped him avoid tickets considering that he commenced using it. Not only does Waze give driving instructions, it also offers pace limits and points out exactly where velocity lure cameras are situated.

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