Originally Posted by
WomBatt
'Almost no country in western Europe requires an IDP' - I did say Europe, where western or westernised Europe starts is now a guess.
Certainly the following countries have the legislation. Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Spain.
I can assure you that I have rented a car in Austria, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Spain (of the ones you mention), all within the last two years, and have never been asked for either an IDP, or my passport. Anecdotal maybe, but certainly not the case that 'many' require it.
I have also rented (from memory) in the last 12 months: Germany, France, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, and UK.