Driving abroad

May 14, 2005 8:42 AM

We're going on our honeymoon in Europe. We're renting cars in Italy and Ireland. I'm getting conflicting reports on the international driver's license. Do we need them?
posted by dpx.mfx to travel & transportation (12 comments total)

Ask each car rental agency. The answer will depend on their own insurance conditions.
posted by AlexReynolds at 9:14 AM on May 14, 2005

I just got back from France. All an international drivers license does is include a standard set of information from your existing drivers license, in a format that can handle something between 6 and 12 languages. All it does is makes it easier for the guy stopping you to read your license, because you have an international one. It does not replace your existing drivers license, but complements it.

You do not need an international drivers license, your existing license is usually enough, but because licenses vary from state to province to country, it makes things a lot easier.
posted by furtive at 9:18 AM on May 14, 2005

Holders of US, Canadian, Australian and All EU member states are NOT required to supply an International Driving License (IDL). An International Driving License (IDL) is required if your national driver's license is not in Roman script. International driver's licenses MUST BE accompanied by the original domestic license of the driver. (This is clearly stated on the international license).

From this Irish car rental site. I've been home with american friends who've used their regular license with no apparent problems.
posted by dublinemma at 9:25 AM on May 14, 2005

In Ireland, I've rented a car from Dan Dooley with just my Dutch license. My experiences with my international license is that it only causes more confusion (e.g. in the US). It's just a shoddy looking booklet with a lot of gibberish on it. Doesn't look "official" enough for most rental agencies and they revert to my Dutch license in the end...
posted by swordfishtrombones at 9:37 AM on May 14, 2005

I've rented lots of cars in Europe and New Zealand with just a US drivers license.
posted by Nelson at 10:06 AM on May 14, 2005

I've rented cars in Holland, the UK, Germany, France and Italy with a Texas driver's license and proof of insurance. Because I'm insured by USAA, I have international insurance, so I never had to get insurance from the rental places. Check with your insurer, and see if you're covered. If you're not, pay the fee to get insurance with the car. Trust me.
posted by dejah420 at 11:46 AM on May 14, 2005

Rented a car in Athens (automatic, natch), with just my Missouri license.
posted by sachinag at 2:55 PM on May 14, 2005

I've rented at the Milan airport with just my NY driver's license.
posted by nicwolff at 2:58 PM on May 14, 2005

It costs only $10 and could save you much more in headaches, even though it's not legally required.
rec.travel.europe has an authoritative FAQ on European travel, and should be your first stop for common questions regarding European travel. It's also a superb group for obtaining more estoteric information.
posted by Neiltupper at 4:30 PM on May 14, 2005

Just get it. For all the money you're spending on the honeymoon, what's another $10? You can get them at AAA (American Automobile Association).
posted by Doohickie at 8:25 PM on May 14, 2005

If you can't drive a stickshift, make sure that automatic transmission is clearly shown on all of your car rental reservations.

Even so, given that Italy is in your plans, there's a 30%-40% chance you're going to be spending one afternoon of your honeymoon teaching yourself to drive a stick because the rental agency ran out (or never had) the automatic required to honor your reservation.

Tip: it's all about being gentle on the clutch. (Advice that really should go without saying on a honeymoon...)
posted by MattD at 8:38 PM on May 14, 2005

It's often a requirement of rental car agencies/insurance, but hardly a necessity unless you're from or going to a country where your license would be in a different alphabet. I've never gotten one but my husband has and neither of us has had trouble renting cars (from NZ, in the US and UK). For the low price it can't hurt, as Doohickie says. And they take about five minutes to get, since it's just a stamp and your photo in a booklet.
posted by tracicle at 2:10 AM on May 15, 2005