Apr 20, 2026
Do you need an IDP to drive in Italy if you are from the US?
By Jamie Patrick
Yes. Italy requires US drivers to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their state driver's license, or a certified Italian translation as a less practical alternative. Italian police, including Carabinieri and Polizia Stradale, do check during traffic stops, and rental car companies routinely require the IDP at pickup. Fines for driving without one range from €408 (~$441) to €1,634 (~$1,765).
What the law requires
Italy is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Non-EU license holders, including US drivers, must carry an IDP alongside their valid US license. A certified Italian translation of the license is technically also acceptable under Italian law, but it's far less practical: a sworn translation has to be done by a court-approved translator, costs more than the IDP itself, and takes longer to obtain.
Three documents on you any time you're behind the wheel:
Your valid US driver's license
Your AAA-issued IDP
Your passport
Driving in Italy without an IDP (or a certified translation) is technically driving without a recognized license under Italian law. Rental agencies know this and will refuse to release a vehicle if you can't produce both the license and the IDP at pickup.
Enforcement is real
Italy is one of the European countries that takes IDP enforcement seriously. The places you're most likely to get checked:
Rental car returns at major airports. Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, and Naples Capodichino all have agents who check the IDP at return, and some at pickup. Missing IDP gets noted on the rental contract, which becomes an insurance issue later.
Tourist roads. The Amalfi Coast, Tuscan countryside, and routes around Lake Como see regular police presence, especially during summer.
ZTL checkpoints. Florence, Rome, Milan, and Bologna all have Zona Traffico Limitato zones that restrict non-resident vehicles in city centers, monitored by cameras and officers. If you're stopped without an IDP it gets added to a longer list of issues.
Roadside checks by Polizia Stradale and Carabinieri, especially around peak summer travel weekends.
Fines for driving without a valid IDP range from €408 (~$441) to €1,634 (~$1,765), with the higher end coming when the missing IDP is paired with other issues like an expired license or speeding.
Insurance is the bigger problem. Most rental insurance and many travel insurance policies have language voiding coverage when you weren't legally licensed to drive, and not having an IDP qualifies. If you crash in Italy without an IDP on you, you're personally on the hook for damage to the rental car and any third-party costs.
If your trip stops in other countries beyond Italy, every one has its own IDP rules. Our world map of IDP requirements has the rules for every country in one place.
How to Get an IDP Before or During Your Trip to Italy
Regardless of where you are traveling, your International Driving Permit (IDP) has to be issued in the country where your driver's license is issued, which is the US for the vast majority of Americans. In the US, only AAA and AATA are authorized to issue IDPs, which means that all the websites offering "digital" or "instant" IDPs are selling fake documents. Below are the four ways to get an official IDP if you have a US driver's license.
1. In person at AAA
This is only possible if you're still in the United States, but the least expensive method to get an IDP is to visit a AAA branch in person. You can typically get an IDP for $30-50 and within 30-60 minutes when you visit a AAA office. However, some branches don't carry IDPs or are frequently out of stock, so it's best to call ahead to make sure you can get an IDP if you go in. Steps to obtain an IDP in person:
Gather your driver's license, payment method, and recent passport photos (optional).
Visit the nearest AAA location that issues IDPs (check the branch's services offered from that link) during operating hours.
Fill out AAA's IDP application form, either ahead of time or while you wait.
If you didn't bring passport photos, AAA can take them for you for an additional fee ($10-30, depending on the branch).
Pay an additional $20 plus tax (sometimes assessed) for processing the IDP. Cash, check, and credit/debit cards are generally accepted.
Be prepared to wait for the process to be completed, but after that you'll be able to walk out with your IDP.
2. Online with AAA
AAA now offers an online application option through their partner govWorks, which is linked on the AAA website. Be aware: govWorks has terrible customer reviews, and customers frequently express that their IDPs are never delivered and that Customer Service is difficult to reach.
Steps to get an IDP online from AAA:
Visit the AAA website and complete their online IDP application
Upload a digital passport photo and your driver's license information
Pay the application fee (currently $20 for the IDP booklet, plus $10 for photo processing, and $15-220+ for shipping)
Wait for your IDP to be processed (5 days) and mailed to your address (an additional 3-10 days)
Processing times vary, taking at least a week, so this option works best if you're planning ahead and have a reliable mailing address.
3. Online with AATA
AATA (the American Automobile Touring Alliance) is the other organization authorized by the US government to issue IDPs to American drivers. Like AAA, AATA offers an online application process, though its website is only online 8am-5pm Friday through Tuesday. Its application page is not available all other times of the week.
Steps to get an IDP online from AATA:
Visit the AATA website and complete their online IDP application
Upload a digital passport photo and your driver's license information
Submit payment for the application fee (currently $20 for the IDP booklet, plus $7 for photo processing, and $14-165 for shipping)
Similar to AAA, AATA's processing and delivery times require advance planning, typically taking 2-4 days for processing, plus shipping time (2-10 days).
4. Online with Fast IDP (that's us, a faster option for AAA-issued IDPs)
If your timeline is too short for AAA or AATA's online processing times, using Fast IDP to expedite your IDP allows you to get an IDP as soon as the next day with the peace of mind that comes with our 5.0/5.0 average customer reviews.
Steps to obtain an IDP using Fast IDP:
Fill out the Apply page on our website. This includes taking photos of the front and back of your driver's license and uploading them on Fast IDP's secure portal, as well as taking passport-style photos of yourself (a decent selfie works).
Submit your application and payment, which starts at $73 (all-in, including all fees and taxes), and goes up with faster processing and shipping.
The Fast IDP team will review your documents for completeness and reach out to you if they see anything you need to adjust in your application.
A Fast IDP team member will go to AAA on your behalf to submit your documents and then will mail your IDP to you via express courier. You'll get an email the evening your IDP is sent with your tracking information and a picture of your IDP.
Even if we can't get an IDP for you, we're always happy to help answer questions for you about IDPs.
Don't get scammed
Whatever you do, don't get scammed by a website claiming to offer an IDP instantly online. Though a company like Fast IDP can legally expedite International Driving Permits from AAA, the only organizations authorized to issue IDPs to US drivers are AAA and AATA. There is no "instant" or "digital" version of a legitimate IDP; your documents must be handled by AAA or AATA for them to issue an IDP, which is always a physical booklet.
Whether you opt for the traditional in-person method, another online option, or working with us, we wish you an easy process getting an IDP and safe driving!