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World Driving Permit

🇮🇹 Do you need an international driver's license in Italy?

IDP required· the 1968 Vienna Convention· Last reviewed 3 Sept 2026

Key facts

Driving side
Right-hand
Minimum driving age
18+ years
Driving without the right documents
Driving without a required IDP in Italy can result in significant fines and the vehicle being impounded at a roadside check.

Short answer

Yes — if your licence was issued outside the EU/EEA. Italy requires non-EU visitors, including US, Canadian and Australian drivers, to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official Italian translation together with their licence. EU/EEA and UK photocard licences are accepted on their own. Get the IDP from your home country's authorised issuer before you fly.

Driving in Italy: the rule explained

Italy requires non-EU license holders to carry an IDP or a sworn Italian translation of their license. Police actively check at traffic stops, and fines for non-compliance are significant.

Exemption: EU/EEA licenses are valid in Italy without an IDP or translation.

Who needs an IDP in Italy — by licence country

Who needs an IDP in Italy — by licence country
Your licenceWhat Italy requires
US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, UAE and other non-EU licencesIDP required (or an official Italian translation), carried with your licence. US drivers use the 1949 Geneva IDP that AAA/AATA issue; Italy is party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions, so it is accepted.
EU / EEA licencesNo IDP and no translation — an EU/EEA licence is valid in Italy as it is.
UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man photocard licencesNo IDP needed for visits (GOV.UK). Car-hire desks can still ask, so check the rental company's own policy.
Licences not in the Latin alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Cyrillic…)IDP required, and a certified translation companion is worth carrying so rental staff and police can read the licence categories.
Residents registered with the AnagrafeMust obtain an Italian licence within one year of registering residence. There is no exchange agreement for US licences, so the Italian tests apply.

Renting a car in Italy

Italian rental agencies are stricter than most — many explicitly require the IDP at pickup for non-EU licenses.

IDP rules for car rental, country by country →

What Italian law says (Article 135 of the Highway Code)

Italy's Codice della Strada lets visitors drive on a foreign licence, but a licence issued outside the EU/EEA must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit or an official Italian translation. The check is document-based: at a roadside stop the Polizia Stradale or Carabinieri want to see the licence and the IDP or translation together, and a rental agreement does not stand in for either. Italy has ratified both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna road-traffic conventions, which is why the 1949 permit AAA and AATA issue to US drivers is recognised alongside the 1968 permit most other countries issue.

Fines if you are stopped without one

Driving on a non-EU licence with no IDP or official translation is an administrative offence under Article 135. Expect a fine that runs to several hundred euros — the amounts are revised periodically, so check the current figure with the official sources below — and the officer can order the vehicle detained until a qualified driver collects it. Being a tourist is not a defence. Set against that, the permit itself costs about US$20 and is issued the same day at a AAA branch, so getting it before departure is the cheap option.

Renting a car in Italy: what the desk checks

Italian rental desks are stricter than most in Europe. The major networks routinely ask non-EU drivers for the IDP at pickup, because the branch cannot hand over a car to someone not entitled to drive and the insurer can void cover after an accident if the required permit was missing. Bring the physical licence card (not a photo), your passport, a credit card in the driver's name and a booking whose driver name matches the licence exactly. If your licence was issued outside the EU, assume you will be asked for the IDP. Our guide to IDP rules for car rental compares desk practice in other countries.

How to get an IDP for Italy — and what World Driving Permit can and cannot do

IDPs are issued only in your own country, before travel, by the body your government authorises: AAA or AATA in the United States (about US$20 plus photos; same day in person at AAA), CAA in Canada, the state motoring clubs in Australia, the Automobile and Touring Club in the UAE. Italy does not issue IDPs to visitors, so it cannot be fixed after you land. World Driving Permit does not issue IDPs. What we provide is a certified translation companion — a clearly labelled multi-language translation of your licence with a statement of accuracy and QR verification — that helps desks and officers read your licence. It is not the sworn Italian translation (traduzione giurata) the Italian ministry refers to and it does not replace the IDP: carry it together with the IDP and your original licence. Use the free checker to confirm what your licence country needs and the issuer directory to find the right office at home.

What to carry when driving in Italy

  • Original driving license (physical card)
  • Passport with valid visa/entry stamp
  • Translation companion or certified translation of your license
  • Proof of insurance covering the destination
  • IDP or sworn Italian translation (non-EU licenses)
Print / save this checklist (PDF)

Check your exact trip

Get a tailored answer for your licence country, dates and vehicle.

Translation companion

A certified, multi-language translation of your licence to carry alongside it. It is not an IDP and does not replace one.

official driving licence translation

Italy: frequently asked questions

Do you need an international driver's license in Italy?
Yes if your licence was issued outside the EU/EEA. There is no document actually called an "international driver's license" — what Italy wants is the International Driving Permit (IDP), issued by your home country's authorised body (AAA or AATA in the US) and carried with your normal licence. EU/EEA and UK photocard licences do not need one.
Does Italy require an international driving permit?
Yes for non-EU licence holders: Article 135 of the Italian Highway Code requires a foreign licence to be accompanied by an IDP or an official Italian translation. EU/EEA licences are exempt, and GOV.UK confirms UK photocard holders do not need an IDP for Italy.
Do I need an international driving permit for Italy with a US license?
Yes. The U.S. Embassy in Italy advises Americans to obtain an IDP before leaving the United States; AAA and AATA are the only authorised issuers (about US$20). Carry the IDP together with your US licence — neither is valid in Italy on its own.
Can I drive in Italy with a US license?
Yes, as a visitor, provided you carry an IDP or an official Italian translation alongside it. A US licence cannot be exchanged for an Italian one, so anyone who becomes a resident must pass the Italian written and driving tests within a year of registering.
Does Italy accept the 1949 Geneva IDP that AAA issues?
Yes. Italy is party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna conventions, so the 1949 permit AAA and AATA issue to US drivers is recognised. Remember it is valid for one year from its effective date.
What is the fine for driving in Italy without an international driving permit?
It is an administrative offence under Article 135 of the Italian Highway Code, punished with a fine in the hundreds of euros and, at the officer's discretion, detention of the vehicle. The figures are adjusted periodically, so confirm the current amount with the official sources on this page.
Do car rental companies in Italy require an IDP?
Most do for non-EU licences — expect to show the IDP at pickup with your licence, passport and credit card. Booking online does not waive the check. Our car-rental IDP guide compares desk rules by country.
Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Italy?
Yes — if your licence was issued outside the EU/EEA. Italy requires non-EU visitors, including US, Canadian and Australian drivers, to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official Italian translation together with their licence. EU/EEA and UK photocard licences are accepted on their own. Get the IDP from your home country's authorised issuer before you fly. Italy requires non-EU license holders to carry an IDP or a sworn Italian translation of their license. Police actively check at traffic stops, and fines for non-compliance are significant.
Is a translated driving licence accepted in Italy?
A certified translation companion helps officials and car-rental desks in Italy read your licence, but where Italy requires an IDP it must be one issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Always carry your original national licence with it.
What do I need to rent a car in Italy?
Italian rental agencies are stricter than most — many explicitly require the IDP at pickup for non-EU licenses.
Which IDP convention does Italy use?
Italy recognises IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Make sure your IDP is issued by your own country's authorised issuer under the matching convention.
How long is an International Driving Permit valid in Italy?
Because Italy follows the 1968 Vienna Convention, an IDP is valid for up to three years, or until your national licence expires — whichever comes first. The permit is only valid alongside your original national licence, and it cannot be renewed — you apply for a new one from your home country's authorised issuer when it lapses.
What is the minimum age to drive in Italy?
Visitors generally need to be at least 18 to drive in Italy; car-rental companies often set a higher minimum age and add a young-driver surcharge. Always confirm the age terms with your specific rental provider.

Official sources

Need a real, government-recognised IDP? How to get an IDP from an authorised issuer.

Driving to Italy from your country

In-depth driving guides

Real-world driving and IDP guides for popular trips:

Requirements for other countries