My partner is a Chinese citizen studying in the UK. We're planning on holidaying in Sardinia and would like to rent a car there. She can drive and holds a Chinese Driving License. Having spoken to some car companies they suggest she needs an International Driving Permit (IDP) and a translation of her license to be able to rent a car there.
How can she get an IDP since China is not a member, and where can she translate her license?
IDPs are issued by countries (or their in-country agents) that have adopted one or more of the several international Conventions on Road Traffic. (You can read more about the Conventions and IDPs in this Wikipedia article.) These conventions are international treaties between countries.
Translation isn't an issue: an IDP itself is and serves as a translation of the original license. This is particularly useful when the issuing country and destination country use different languages or different written script. With the IDP, local law enforcement (and car rental agencies) can determine if the license holder can legally drive.
The People's Republic of China has not adopted any of these conventions. Because China hasn't adopted a convention, China has no authority to issue an IDP to its license-holding citizens. Your friend cannot, therefore, obtain an IDP based on holding a Chinese drivers license.
Perhaps one of you can obtain a driver's license from a country that has adopted one of the conventions, and can therefore issue an IDP. If you can't, you will not be able to legally drive, nor rent a vehicle, on your Sardinian vacation.
Hopefully the car rental companies mean IDP or translation, because both should certainly not be required.
An International Driving Permit is not a translation in the linguistic sense. It is a document that certifies that the holder has a driving licence valid for one or more specified classes of vehicles. Unfortunately there is no organisation authorised to issue an IDP based on a Chinese driving licence. Similar documents available online are not valid and some may even be considered forgeries.
The alternative is a certified translation, traduzione giurata. The Chinese embassy in Italy might be able help you by either provide a certified translation or recommend an authorised translator. Perhaps the Italian embassy in the UK can help you find a translator in the UK that meets the legal criteria.
The Automobile Club d'Italia provides some information about documents for driving in Italy.
