Your current driver’s license can be used to rent a car within the European Union. You may want to consider renewing it before you come so that it will not expire while you are away. In practice, rental car companies will accept your American license no matter how long you have been in the country, so you will not need an Italian driver’s license.
Note: In Italy, almost all cars have a standard (manual) transmission. Automatic transmission cars are the exception. You may want to learn how to drive a manual transmission before coming over here.
The International Driver’s License is not needed if you have a valid driver’s license from home.
Updated 30 March 2012
