Hello All,
Last September I got an international driver's license for use in Italy. We are returning to Italy again in October this year. The license states that it is only good for up to one year after the date of issue, but AAA did not indicate an issue date anywhere on the document. Is there any reason for me to get a new one since no issue date is indicated and also since this will just be one month past the date I received it. I can't think of any reason that I should, but maybe you can.
Thanks,
Tom

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

At our AAA, they stamp the issue date on the front. If they forgot to do this on yours - lucky boy! Use it!

Mine says, on the front cover: Issued at Heathrow, Florida USA, valid for One year from, Date: - - then October 01, 2001 is stamped. Good news for me too - we can use this for our fall trip because we go home September 28!

If you do have one that expires in the middle of a trip, AAA will stamp a forward date for you - last year we brought two with us - one for each half of the trip. AAA just asks you when you want the IDL to start.

>>>AAA just ask you when you want the IDL to start.

This is a good point. Regardless of when I actually go into AAA to get a new one, I always have them put the first date I will actually be driving a car. That way I can make the IDP last as long as possible.

If you did a search you would probably find some differing views on international driver's licenses. I have traveled in Europe with a car maybe two dozen times and I have never gotten one. What I understand about them is that they are important if your country of origin uses an alphabet that may not be understood where you will be traveling: Cyrillic or Chinese, for example. For most others your state issued license should be acceptable. Of course AAA would recommend that you get one because they make money on them. And, yes, I have been stopped on two occasions (Italy) with no questions asked about my California license.

This subject is a continuous debate on the AOL boards. We have had some discussion here. It is Italian law (different from the rest of Europe) that you must have an IDL - a translation of your drivers license.

We recommend that you travel with an IDL if you intend to drive. Most likely you will never have to show it to anyone.

I'm sorry, Lina, just because you've driven without an International Driving Permit, and not been asked for one, doesn't mean that it is legal for you to drive in Italy without one.
Other European countries may not be as strict, but Italian law states that you MUST HAVE a translation of your driver's license. The easiest way to get this translation is to purchase an IDP from AAA. It costs about $15 and takes about 10 minutes.
If you choose to flout the Italian law, that's your business, but it's probably best if you don't disseminate bad information.

Just to chime in to agree that under Italian law, one is to have a copy of his/her driver's license translated into Italian and to be able to produce that at any time when driving. Easiest way to do that is to get an IDL and carry it with your own driver's license. You may well never be asked for it, but if you have a traffic accident or traffic violation such as speeding, you can be asked and can be severely fined for not having.

Nobody told the policeman who once asked for my IDP that I didn't need one!
A few years ago, I got sideswiped by another car coming out of the tollbooth at Orte.
The policeman who was parked there (chatting with the toll booth guy) was VERY interested in seeing my IDP.

Being a law abiding citizen I would never flout the law as a traveller in another country--even if it is the country of my birth. The information that I posted was an opinion and I stand by it.

Thanks for your responses. I'll plan on using the one I have from the last trip.
Tom

So how does one get an International Driver's License? Do you have to take a driving test and how would THAT work? Or take a written test? Or do they just issue you one if you show them a non-expired American driver's license?What's the range in cost? Now this makes two items that I'm required to bring -- a passport and an IDL. I hope there's nothing else.

An IDL is very easy to get. You get one at any AAA office. Just take in your state-issued driver's license, AAA makes passport-size photos (or you can take two of those in with you) and issues the IDL. Costs about $ 15 and is valid for a year.

Cynde, just to clarify, you must bring with you your passport, IDL AND your home state driver's license. The IDL is essentially just a translation of your DL so you must have your original DL for it to be valid. WHen renting a car, they (car rental company) will only ask for your driver's license. They do not care about the IDL but then they are not the ones who give out tickets.

Cristina,

Very good clarification. I am about to leave to live in Italy for a year, and I have the International Driver's License and hadn't put it together to bring my licensed from here as well...or at least to be sure I carried it with me at all times when driving. Thanks!

Betsy

That is a good point Cristina! I will add that to the driving section where I talk about IDL.