Do I Need an International Driver’s License in Italy?

So you’re wondering if you need an international driver’s license in Italy? If you’re planning on driving in Italy, YES, you must have an International Driving Permit.

Why? Because the law requires it. If you don’t, you risk a massive fine, having your rental car impounded, and being stranded on the side of the road. While the Italian countryside is beautiful, we don’t think you’d want this to happen.

In this post, we’ll take you through the importance of having an international driver’s license for Italy, how to get an International Driving Permit, and the rules of the road for driving in Italy.

What is an International Driving Permit (IDP)?

An International Driver’s License, also known as an International Driving Permit (IDP), is a special document that accompanies your valid driver’s license, allowing you to drive in other countries without further testing. This document, issued by certified government authorities, is proof that you have a valid driver’s license in your home country.

How Do You Get an International Driving Permit?

It’s actually REALLY easy! Every country has different certified government authorities that issue International Driving Permits. In Canada and the United States, you want to visit your local Automobile Association (AAA or CAA). To save time, it is best to arrive prepared:

1. Prepare your documents – you’ll need a photocopy (front and back) of your valid driver’s license. If you talk nicely, they may even do this at AAA or CAA for you!
2. Two (2) passport photos, signed by you – typically, they do this at AAA/CAA, or you can bring your own.
3. A completed and signed application form from AAA or CAA.

How Much Does an International Driver’s License Cost?

In Canada, it only costs $31 (not including the cost of your passport photos). The permit itself is valid for one year from the date of issue. Once it expires, you do need to go through this process all over again. Unfortunately, there is no renewal process.

How Long Does it Take to Get an International Driving Permit from AAA or CAA?

It only took us 10 minutes from the time we walked into CAA. Since we had our application completed, we just had to take the passport photos, and we got the International Driving Permit!

If you can’t make it to a CAA or AAA location, you can submit all the necessary documents by mail, and you should receive your license within two weeks!

How Old Do You Need to Be to Get an International Driver’s License?

You only need to be 18 years old to get an International Driving Permit. This is also the age to drive in Italy. However, there’s a catch! You are unable to rent a car until you are 21 in Italy. In addition to that, if you are 21-24, some Italian car rental companies will charge you an additional “Young Driver’s Surcharge”.

So we just recommend waiting until you are 25+ to get your International Driving Permit for Italy!

Driving in Italy

Here are some of our quick tips for driving in Italy:

1. You do not need an International Driving Permit for Italy if you have a European Union driver’s license.
2. If the rental company doesn’t ask for a copy of your International Driving Permit, the police will so make sure you always have it.
3. Your International Driving Permit must always be accompanied by your valid driver’s license (from your country of residence). You could face impoundment or a massive fine if you don’t have it.
4. You won’t always see police – they have several automated camera systems that pick up speeding and toll violations. A ticket would then eventually come your way!
5. If you’re a nervous driver, we wouldn’t recommend getting behind the wheel in Italy, especially on the Amalfi Coast and within major cities.
6. Be prepared to drive a manual car. We requested an automatic and still ended up with a manual – luckily, the car did tell us when to shift gears!
7. Don’t drink and drive – this should be an obvious one, but Italy’s blood alcohol allowance is 0.05.

Renting a Car in Italy

We’ve put together a list of 23 Important Tips for Renting a Car in Italy, and we’ve highlighted a few below:

1. Get a GPS – but have someone with you who can also watch the GPS. You will need 100% focus on the road!
2. Book in advance – this way, you know the car will be there when you go to pick it up. Plus, you can also guarantee a convertible Fiat 500 for driving the Amalfi Coast (if that’s what you want).
3. Wait until you are 25 years old to rent and drive a car in Italy – it is the best way to avoid extra charges.
4. Consider using the train system – we love using trains as a way to get around Europe! They move fast and are super reliable. While we had a BLAST driving the Amalfi Coast in our little convertible Fiat 500, we would recommend using a train to see the beautiful countryside.

Read more of our tips for renting a car in Italy.

Other Countries that Require an International Driving Permit

While you have your International Driver’s License for the year, why not plan a trip to some other countries that require one?! Your International Driving Permit is valid in all countries that have signed the United Nation’s 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (and even a few that didn’t sign it). Here are some of the countries that require an International Driving Permit:

The complete list of all countries that require an International Driving Permit and the 1949 treaty, can be found here.

So, Do You Need an International Driver’s License in Italy?

Yes! But the best part is that it’s not hard to get, it doesn’t take long, and it’s relatively cheap! Plus, it’s valid for a year and can be used in so many other countries! Even if you’re not sure that you’ll be driving in another country, we recommend getting the International Driving Permit and always keeping it on you.

Have you driven in another country? What was your experience like?