Do you really need an International Driving Permit for overseas?

In September, I’m in a queue at the Sixt car rental desk at Italy’s Brindisi Airport and the American bloke in front of me is having a bad day.

The agent behind the desk just asked him for his International Driving Permit (IDP) and he doesn’t have one. He’s never been asked for one before, he says, why now? It’s a legal requirement, she tells him. No IDP, no car. When I check later that day, Italy’s legal pages confirm an IDP is required for non-EU licence holders in Italy.

To rent a car in Italy you’ll need an International Drive Permit.Credit: iStock

The IDP issue is one that divides travellers. On one side is a significant cohort who say they’ve never been asked to produce an IDP at the car-hire desk nor anywhere else, therefore they don’t need one, and why spend $50 on something they don’t need? On the other side are the cautious types, many of whom have never been asked to produce an IDP, who yet fork out the cash year after year, and I’m in their camp.

If you want to find out if your next overseas driving destination requires an IDP, go to the “Australian Auto Association IDP” web page, scroll down to “Where do I need a permit?” and insert your destination.

If you’re driving in Europe, be prepared for some surprises because there are very few countries that do not require an IDP, Greece, the UK and Norway among them.

The IDP is essentially a translation of your driver’s licence into several major languages, yet even Ireland, where English language proficiency is hardly an issue, car hirers are required to have an IDP.

In the US an IDP is “recommended for car rental companies”, while in Canada several provinces recognise an Australian licence, no IDP required.

Car hire operatives don’t often ask for an IDP, even when it’s a legal obligation. When I get to the Sixt desk behind the rejected customer I’m not asked for my IDP. It’s not their job to enforce the law, the agent tells me, but driving without one where it’s a legal requirement could have an unhappy ending if you’re involved in an accident, in which case you might be deemed an unlicenced driver, with unfortunate consequences. All things considered, $50 is a small price to pay.