International Driving Licence

scaredofdebt

Hi,

We are going to Italy in August and have arranged car hire.

The documents say we need an "international driving licence".  I assume this is some Brexit related thing, I suppose my UK driving licence is no longer an "EU driving licence"?

International Driving Licence:
Please note that if you do not have an EU driving licence you will need to bring an international driving licence along with your original
licence to rent the car.

I have an "international driving permit" that I got from the post office and I was told that I can use this in Italy, is this one and the same?

Thanks,

David

TELLIT01

There is no such thing as an International Driving Licence despite what their website says, the IPD which you have is all that is required.  It can get complicated as not all EU countries require one.

tightauldgit

You shouldn't need an IDP at all in the EU if you have a photo license. 

[Deleted User]

tightauldgit said:

You shouldn't need an IDP at all in the EU if you have a photo license. 

I wouldn't rely on that. The Withdrawal Agreement is about to be cancelled by the UK, who knows what rules we will be subject to or what sanctions will be imposed.

sheramber

Local rental companies can make their own rules.

Phil_For

It now appears that UK citizens have to have an IDP for car rental in Italy. The GovUK site states you do NOT need one. The official Gov Paypoint site also states this( you cannot find out which of the three available that you need). I have contacted Auto Europe and the supplier Europcar they both confirm I need one but could tell me which one or how to apply! 

Europcar and Budget have both told me that UK customers without an IDP have been turned away at the desk.
has anyone any recent experience coif this? I last hired in Italy in April 2024 without a problem.

Westin

Phil_For said:

It now appears that UK citizens have to have an IDP for car rental in Italy. The GovUK site states you do NOT need one. The official Gov Paypoint site also states this( you cannot find out which of the three available that you need). I have contacted Auto Europe and the supplier Europcar they both confirm I need one but could tell me which one or how to apply! 

Europcar and Budget have both told me that UK customers without an IDP have been turned away at the desk.
has anyone any recent experience coif this? I last hired in Italy in April 2024 without a problem.

If your chosen rent-a-car company is telling you that you need an IDP then that's what I would go with.

If they have said you need one and you turn up to collect your car without one, I don't think saying the GovUK says otherwise will cut the mustard with the Italian staff member at the car rental desk.

DullGreyGuy

Phil_For said:

It now appears that UK citizens have to have an IDP for car rental in Italy. The GovUK site states you do NOT need one. The official Gov Paypoint site also states this( you cannot find out which of the three available that you need). I have contacted Auto Europe and the supplier Europcar they both confirm I need one but could tell me which one or how to apply! 

Europcar and Budget have both told me that UK customers without an IDP have been turned away at the desk.
has anyone any recent experience coif this? I last hired in Italy in April 2024 without a problem.

The UK government only comment on what the Italian laws are, so if you take your own car there you won't need an IDP. 

Hire car companies are entitled to put whatever restrictions they want on who can and cannot hire a car from them (as long as it complies with whatever the local anti-discrimination and fair contract terms may exist).

saajan_12

Whatever the official rules are, what rental companies decide to use seem to be fairly random (as is their right so not complaining). I've had companies who insisted on an IDP and others whos T&Cs specified an IDP but the staff at the counter had no idea what it was. For this cost, I'd just get one from the post office to be safe. Its a bit annoying that they're only annual. 

TELLIT01

For the limited cost and hassle of getting an IDP it's probably worth getting even if it isn't actually required.  I have heard comments about Brits being asked for IDP in Greece.  I can't confirm that as fact.

zagfles

TELLIT01 said:

For the limited cost and hassle of getting an IDP it's probably worth getting even if it isn't actually required.  I have heard comments about Brits being asked for IDP in Greece.  I can't confirm that as fact.

I hired a car in Greece a few months ago with a tatty old UK paper licence. I've never had a problem anywhere in the world with it, I'm just usually asked for my passport, and a photo of the passport which I have on my phone has always been accepted.

I've usually obtained a DVLA code before going so they can check my licence online if they want to, but they rarely do. 

Personally I wouldn't bother with car hire companies that insist on unnecessary documentation that isn't required by law.