Question: Leone Tromper asks:  I will be traveling to Germany and Austria this May, and I'll be renting a car.  Do I need an international driver's license?
 
Answer: AAA Travel's Lynda Gwynn answers: An International Driving Permit is an official translation of your valid U.S. license and is not a license to drive. AAA is one of only two entities authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs to U.S. residents per the 1949 U.N. Convention on Road Traffic...beware of fraudulent issuers' scams on the Internet (see Road Safety Overseas on the Travel.State.Gov Web site). While an IDP is highly recommended for Germany, Austria DOES require an IDP document which is valid for one year in over 150 countries. An IDP can be purchased at any AAA office for a fee of $15. See AAA.com/vacation/idpc.html for application form and requirements. The current requirements per Hertz, AAA's Exclusive Car Rental Partner, are as follows.

Germany: At the time of rental the driver must present a valid national driver's license which has been held for at least one year. For the following vehicle groups you must present a valid national driver's license held for at least three years: Special four-Door (K), Special (Z), Premium SUV Automatic (X6), Premium SUV (W6), Hertz Green Collection Full-size (T6) and the Hertz Prestige Collection. For all Non-European Union renters, it is highly recommended - your national driver's license must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP). An IDP translates the national license into various languages and is on its own, without the national license, not acceptable.

Austria: At the time of rental, the driver must present a valid national driving license which has been held for at least one year. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required for US and Canada renters. The IDP translates the national driving license into various languages and is not accepted without the national license.