Intl Drivers Permit

If you have a valid driver's licence and it is in Roman/Latin script (ie, not Japanese, Chinese, Cyrillic, Thai, Arabic, etc) - then you should be fine. I've never been asked overseas (but not including Spain).

Can't you just walk into a rental agency where you are and ask them? Perhaps avoid Gold Car.

HI Marrella -
Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, my drivers license is in English (non EU country) but I am not currently in the area where I will be renting the car. I suppose I can always call some offices and ask.

I read somewhere that for Spain, if you are a non-EU drivers license holder, you should have an Intl Drivers Permit not so much for renting the car, but in case you are asked by the police. Most other EU countries do not require it, but I guess Spain supposedly does.

As mine is at home back in California, I am wondering if I have someone text me the pages, if that would suffice?

I can't assist on that ... thankfully I have had zero experience with Spanish Police, so can't comment on either the friendliness of their attitude, or indeed their reading skills.

But by analogy, US car rental companies can "require" an IDP as well, but as soon as it's obvious that your DL is perfectly legit and legible, no-one cares. But I am outside my experience zone re Spain.

But as for a text, scan, jpeg, or whatever, I doubt that would wash ... if they really want to see a valid IDP, then I don't think they'll accept anything other than the original.

Please do not listen to someone who has admitted they no experience of this country. Its the law in Spain to have a IDP. Yes you can get caught. One of the latest examples here.
https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/poio/2017/08/16/cazan-poio-conductor-carne-fantasia/00031502903626735140382.htm

The link isn't in English, so I can't read it.

Are you saying that anyone who isn't Spanish/EU must carry an IDP to legally drive in Spain? If so, it is astonishing.

Please do not listen to someone who has admitted they no experience of this country.

Your criticism isn't warranted ... I made it very clear where my experience was delimited. Good grief.

According to what I read on driving in Spain, if you are from a non-EU country you need an IDP, even if your original drivers license is in English.

I was mainly curious if a picture of my IDP would suffice, because I left it at home before starting my travels. In the 10 years that I have had them, I have never even been asked to show it at all. And this time, which may be the one time I need it, I forgot to grab it. I can easily have someone at home text me the pages from it, but i wont have the original personally on me.

In this thread on another forum, there is a lot of debate about it ... so no need to reinvent the wheel over it all again. Some people from the US said they've rented cars in Spain multiple times without an IDP, others say you have to have one if you're from the US.

Take your pick ... I'm out!

I am sorry but your creditability is not good given you have no experience of Spain or the Spanish police (Actually there are a number of police corps in Spain. Quoting a old post for a different forum does not help either. It is maybe time to stop confusing the OP. They are needed end of story.
https://es.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/information-for-travelers/traveling-to-spain/
https://es.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/frequently-asked-questions/
https://es.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/information-for-travelers/
http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

My credibility is perfect ... I don't need harping from you.