Driving in Italy (or the EU in general)

[EKKC]

I've been to Europe twice but next trip in Feb will be the first time renting a car. I'm just wondering to those who had experience traveling there... would we need (meaning each person who would be driving the rental) need the IDP (International Driving Permit) from AAA?

I've been hearing that you do from some and that you don't from others. Seems like a general search online all tells you to go to the AAA to get a one year permit (maybe they're paid off?) I guess the best thing to do is to call up the rental company directly but they're in Italy.

is this optional or definitely required? Do rental companies check for IDP while you request the car?

 

[Demo24]

I drove in Germany and did not need anything more than my US drivers license. As long as that's valid and you are of age, then you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[bignateyk]

International Drivers Licenses are a scam, but I would recommend getting one. You basically walk into AAA and give them $20 and they give you a piece of paper.

Also, make sure you know how to drive stick. I doubt you'll be able to find an automatic rental over there. They only had standards in Greece.

edit: We were told to get the International DL when we went to Greece, so we did. The rental company didnt even look at it though. All they wanted was our US DL.

 

[Red Irish]

What will you need to drive in Italy? Courage is probably the only requisite.

 

[nerp]

One thing to note is that on the autostrada, when you pass, leave the blinker on while passing and then turn it off when you get back into the travel lane. Also be prepared for sudden stops for farmers on three-wheeled vehicles. And be ready for people rocketing past you. If you rent a fiat panda or something, you might find yourself with the gas to the floor to try to get out of the way of someone in a fast car. The highways can move very fast but italian drivers actually know how to pass and keep appropriate distances.

They generally know how to deal with yielding and roundabouts much better than here in the states, so don't be all hesitating and stuff like most people do in the US. If you're supposed to merge, merge.

Renting from Europcar was simple. With a passport and driver's license I've never had issues.

 

[EKKC]

yeah i know about manual shift, that they charge an arm and a leg (per person!) for an automatic.

we're going to land in florence via rome but stay out in the suburbs in tuscany, so a car is a must. i mean florence you can still get by with bus, but outside of it, i guess it's impossible.

 

[bignateyk]

What will you need to drive in Italy? Courage is probably the only requisite.

Yeah, Greece was bad enough, and i've heard italy is worse. I'm going to italy for 3 weeks next fall, and I'll be taking trains to get from city to city, and using public transport within cities. No need to have the stress of driving there ruin my vacation.

 

[nerp]

Suburbs in tuscony? Haha.

Italy is amazing. Enjoy the food.

And yes, driving through tuscany is the way to go. The scenery, windy mountain roads and incredible food everywhere you turn makes it a great experience.

 

[bignateyk]

yeah i know about manual shift, that they charge an arm and a leg (per person!) for an automatic.

we're going to land in florence via rome but stay out in the suburbs in tuscany, so a car is a must. i mean florence you can still get by with bus, but outside of it, i guess it's impossible.

You'll have to let me know how things go. My wife and I are going over there for 2-3 weeks next September for our delayed honeymoon. We plan to fly into Rome, take a train to Naples, Fly from Naples to Venice, take a train from Venice to Florence, then take a train from Florence back to Rome, spending about 4 days in each city.

I'd like to see some of the wine country up near Tuscany though, so hopefully I can find a way to do that without renting a car. Worst case maybe I can just rent a car for a day or 2 in tuscany/florence and use public transport everywhere else.

 

[sohcrates]

i got the international license from AAA and never once have i needed it over there. I guess it's just $20 for peace of mind as stated above.

 

[MixMasterTang]

I think the only time they come in Handy is when you get pulled over. It basically is a piece of paper that helps non-english speakers be able to decipher your license because it has what each section means in a bunch of different languages.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Any EU big city sucks to drive in...sucks a lot. Try to park, haha.

 

[brandonbull]

Last September me and my wife drove around Tuscany for 4 days and then to Venice. I forgot to pack my IDP and on the way back from a winery tour the Italian state police pulled us over. I think they were doing random stops because all they asked for was my regular drivers license and passport and where we were going. No mention of the IDP.

I would recommend getting an auto trans if you plan to drive every where. Too many hills and stop and go for me to use a stick.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

IDP just explains your license to non-engrish speakers.
Italian drivers are some of the craziest. You'll see alot of cars driving in between lanes and stuff - things that if they happened over here we'd be like WTF BBQ CALL POLICE PRONTO DRUNKARD. Kinda funny.

 

[EKKC]

IDP just explains your license to non-engrish speakers.
Italian drivers are some of the craziest. You'll see alot of cars driving in between lanes and stuff - things that if they happened over here we'd be like WTF BBQ CALL POLICE PRONTO DRUNKARD. Kinda funny.

is it because they're all driving FERRARIS

 

[Leros]

IDP just explains your license to non-engrish speakers.
Italian drivers are some of the craziest. You'll see alot of cars driving in between lanes and stuff - things that if they happened over here we'd be like WTF BBQ CALL POLICE PRONTO DRUNKARD. Kinda funny.

According to the European people I know (German, French, Italian), us Americans have clogged up highways because we drive like a bunch of wussies.

 

[nerp]

According to the European people I know (German, French, Italian), us Americans have clogged up highways because we drive like a bunch of wussies.

As an american who has driven a bit in Europe, this makes a lot of sense.

 

[Lotheron]

As an american who has driven a bit in Europe, this makes a lot of sense.

It's also because our roads are filled with soccer moms in 2.5 Ton SUVs that think they rule the road whilst not paying attention to the road.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

According to the European people I know (German, French, Italian), us Americans have clogged up highways because we drive like a bunch of wussies.

When I was in Germany a few years back for study abroad I rented an M3 to blast down the autobahn. All they needed from me was my passport, place where I was staying, CC and my US DL.

I thought I was hauling ass, then I got passed by a Vectra......

I can understand what they mean.

 

[nerp]

It's also because our roads are filled with soccer moms in 2.5 Ton SUVs that think they rule the road whilst not paying attention to the road.

Yes, exactly. And bad drivers who try to get around them and the people that bunch up and hesitate in response to the bad drivers.

 

[Possessed Freak]

According to the European people I know (German, French, Italian), us Americans have clogged up highways because we drive like a bunch of wussies.

I nearly pissed myself when I was in a taxis in Italy. I wouldn't say we drive like wussies, but Italians drive like they have a death wish. So many mopeds zooming between cars, lanes mean NOTHING, truly scary.

I would NEVER drive in Rome.

 

[Triumph]

I rented a car this February with just DL/passport/CC. Passport is required for almost everything over there. Nobody cares about your American Automobile Association driver's license, issued by some non-governmental entity. How about you give me 10 bucks and I'll send you my own version of an international driver's license?

 

[PlasmaBomb]

I nearly pissed myself when I was in a taxis in Italy. I wouldn't say we drive like wussies, but Italians drive like they have a death wish. So many mopeds zooming between cars, lanes mean NOTHING, truly scary.

I would NEVER drive in Rome.

I got a taxi in Rome once... going to the airport we were doing about 120 mph about 6" off the bumper of the car in front at one point... I was struggling not to fall asleep.

 

[FoBoT]

some of the countries (Switzerland for sure , IIRC) make you buy a permit , even if the car is a rental , when you enter

my rental car was from The Netherlands and I drove through Switzerland and had to pay about $40 for some kind of sticker to drive through. just pay attention at the border crossings