International Driving Permit

When traveling overseas, carry an International Driving Permit
(sometimes known also as IDL International Drivers License) ... even if you're
not planning to drive. Should you need to communicate with foreign authorities,
this recognizable form of identification can help you get on your way more quickly.

Valid in over 150 countries, the permit contains your name, photo and driver
information translated into ten languages.

And when you are travelling to Europe then you definitvely need one.
Please note, that due to a new regulation from the European
Community (since Jan 01, 1999) all Non-European customers
NEED an International Drivers Permit. This is only a translation
of your local drivers license into some 10 different languages.

This is fact and many car rental stations didn't hand out a car
if they can't read the drivers license 100%. Due to the situation
that the car rental companies got sued several times because
of the many different drivers license conditions in the world.

For example a customer received a manual car but the drivers
license was only for an automatic one, or the station can't see
exactly if the license show the different groups up to which
ones you can drive a car etc, etc.

But please we aware if you show up at the car rental desk with your
International Driver Permit only then you didn't get any car. On the
other hand the car rental companies don't request mostly an IDL.
If you didn't have the IDL they say, its your risk.

So if you don't have one, normally the worst case could be, that
you have to pay a fine to the police if they want the International
Drivers Permit and you don't have one. But if you drive a car
under wrong conditions, then you are fully responsible for
everything.