B wrote:

On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 06:15:12 GMT, Glenn
wrote:

Bon Giorno Barbara,

That's "Buon giorno".

Grazie for the correction... I can be polite in almost a dozen
languages, but can't spell worth a darn in any of them ;-)

2 points:
First: If the IDL was available from a government agency, (like your
regular drivers license) or at least openly available from a
competitor at your corner convenience store, then I would find it more
acceptable... the fact that a FOR PROFIT corporation {AAA} seems to
hold a monopoly on that market, borders on the un-American!

There is no monopoly; there are other ways to get an IDL than going to
AAA, but they're all more expensive. You could even go to an Italian
consulate and get an official translation of your American license,
which would also satisfy the requirement but would be a lot more
time-consuming.

Mea Culpa ... Just did some research and found that there are "2"
places that a U.S. citizen can get an IDL..(see
"http://www.aaasouth.com/travel_drivers.asp").
All the other places that can be found online are just charging $20
(or much more) to pass the application on thru for the $10 AAA IDL.

Apparently, I also have to retract my statement about AAA being a for
profit corporation (even though their national headquarters building
up the road here in Lake Mary, Florida sure shows a lot of conspicuous
profits at work, imho).

But, I still believe that charging $10 to renew an IDL each year is a
monopolistic rip-off. Since my drivers license has not changed in 17
years, I don't see how the translation of the fields is going to
change from year to year.?


Second: In my last 25 trips to Europe, I have rented cars numerous
time in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands,
Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain, (and been pulled over by the police in
half of those countries, including Italy ;-), and not once have I
ever required an IDL.

I've had liability insurance on my car for over 30 years and never
once had to use it.

Point taken :-)

I live in Italy and when I came here I inquired about getting an
Italian license and using my American license in the interim. I was
told that I could use my American license PROVIDED it was accompanied
by an IDL. I was never stopped during the time that I was using the
American license, but I know other American expatriates who HAVE been
asked for the IDL. You were just lucky, but there has been a recent
tightening up of all Italian driving laws and I wouldn't advise anyone
to drive without complete legal documentation.

Actually, remembering the bureaucratic nightmare I had dealing with
the police in Grado (near Aquileia) a couple of years ago, and that
you had with your citizenship paperwork last year, I think I will take
your advice and carry an IDL with me next time I'm in Italy.

But.. I still refuse to pay AAA, so I'll probably just dig out the
only IDL that I bought back in 1989 before my first trip to Europe...
since the translations haven't changed, it should still be acceptable.

So I usually just advise people to go with their own comfort level
(or, whatever their rental car company's policy may be...)

Which just confirms that there's lots of bad advice circulating on the
internet.

Whadya mean "lot's of bad advice"? With all the great advice out
there, I'm all fired up to go to Salzburg... aren't you???

-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

--
Glenn
--
Reply addresses should be corrected
for Auntie Spam!