Do I need an International Driving Permit for car rental?

Updated 3 Sept 2026

Direct answer

Often, yes. Rental companies frequently require an International Driving Permit for car rental even where local law does not — desks in Italy, Spain, Greece and Japan routinely ask for it, and a licence that is not in English or the Latin alphabet almost always triggers the request. Bring your original licence plus the IDP or a certified translation staff can read, or risk losing the booking and deposit.

At a glance

Legal requirement: Varies by country
Rental-company policy: Often stricter than the law
Accepted at the desk: An IDP or a certified translation + original licence
Biggest risk: Non-readable (non-Latin-script) licences
Goal: Avoid a rejected booking and lost deposit

Trip decision path

Turn this guide into a clean travel plan

Use the guide as context, then confirm your exact license, destination, dates, and vehicle before buying anything.

2 authority sources

1 · Verify the rule

Choose your license country, destination, dates, and vehicle type.

2 · Use an authorized IDP route

If the checker says an IDP is required, get it from your license country's authorized issuer. We do not sell IDPs.

3 · Add a translation companion

Use the translation pack when rental desks, insurers, or checkpoints need to read your license. It is not a permit.

Why rental firms ask even when the law doesn't

A car-rental company has to read your licence to confirm your name, that you're qualified for the vehicle class, and that the licence is valid. Major chains (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Sixt, Europcar) commonly require an IDP or a translation for foreign licences as a matter of company policy — independent of the destination's law — because their staff can't verify a card they can't read. A rejected licence at pickup can forfeit your booking and deposit.

What to bring to the counter

Always bring your original national licence — neither an IDP nor a translation is valid without it. Add an IDP where the country or rental firm specifically requires the booklet, or a certified translation where a translation is accepted. For most rentals, a clear certified translation carried with your licence is enough to satisfy the desk, because it gives staff exactly the information they need to read.

Non-Latin-script licences: don't skip this

If your licence is printed in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Cyrillic, Thai, Greek or Hindi, assume the rental desk will require a translation — many chains require a separate certified translation for non-Latin licences even in countries that don't mandate an IDP. Booking online doesn't waive this; the check happens in person at pickup, so arrive prepared.

International Driving Permit for car rental, by country

Legal status from our sourced country reference plus what each destination's rental desks typically ask for. Open a country for the full rule, exemptions and official sources.

International Driving Permit for car rental, by country
Destination	IDP status	Convention	Rental desks
🇮🇹 Italy	IDP required	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Italian rental agencies are stricter than most — many explicitly require the IDP at pickup for non-EU licenses.
🇪🇸 Spain	Depends on your licence	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Large rental brands at Spanish airports often rent to US license holders without checking an IDP, but police can request one at traffic stops — fines apply if you can't present it.
🇬🇷 Greece	IDP required	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Greek rental agencies are known to refuse non-EU licenses without an IDP, especially on islands.
🇵🇹 Portugal	IDP recommended	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Rental desks in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve accept EU/US/UK licenses directly; non-Latin-script licenses are asked for an IDP or translation.
🇫🇷 France	Depends on your licence	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Rental companies accept most foreign licenses with a passport; an IDP or translation is requested when the license isn't in the Latin alphabet.
🇩🇪 Germany	IDP recommended	the 1968 Vienna Convention	German rental desks check the physical licence plus passport, and for non-Latin-script or non-EU licences they typically ask for an IDP or certified translation before releasing the car.
🇮🇪 Ireland	IDP recommended	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Dublin and Cork airport rental desks accept EU/UK and IDP licences. Note: left-hand traffic.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	Depends on your licence	the 1949 Geneva Convention	UK rental companies require the physical license; non-English licenses may need an IDP or translation per company policy.
🇮🇸 Iceland	IDP recommended	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Icelandic rental companies require a licence held for at least one year, plus a passport and credit card; they ask for an IDP when the licence is non-Latin script.
🇭🇷 Croatia	IDP recommended	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Peak season (Jun–Sep) rental desks at Split and Dubrovnik can be strict — carry both original licence and IDP/translation.
🇹🇷 Türkiye	IDP recommended	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Rental desks in tourist areas accept EU/US licenses directly; an IDP helps with police checks outside major cities.
🇺🇸 United States	Depends on your licence	the 1949 Geneva Convention	Major rental brands accept foreign licenses; non-English licenses usually require an IDP or English translation at the counter.
🇨🇦 Canada	Depends on your licence	the 1949 Geneva Convention	Rental companies require a license in Latin script or an IDP alongside the original.
🇲🇽 Mexico	IDP recommended	the 1949 Geneva Convention	Rental companies (Hertz, Budget, Localiza) accept US/CA/EU licenses directly; Mexican third-party liability insurance is mandatory.
🇯🇵 Japan	IDP required	the 1949 Geneva Convention	Japanese rental companies check the physical IDP at the counter and will refuse hire without it. Booking online does not waive the requirement.
🇹🇭 Thailand	IDP required	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Car rental agencies usually ask for the IDP; scooter shops often don't — but riding without the correct license category plus IDP voids travel insurance and risks fines.
🇮🇩 Indonesia	IDP required	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Scooter rentals rarely ask — but riding without an IDP plus motorcycle category risks fines and voided insurance.
🇦🇺 Australia	Depends on your licence	the 1949 Geneva Convention	Rental companies require either an English-language license or license + IDP/approved translation.
🇳🇿 New Zealand	IDP recommended	no UN road-traffic convention	Rental firms will hire to visitors holding a current valid licence; if the licence is not in English they require an NZTA-approved translation or an IDP to accompany it.
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	Depends on your licence	the 1968 Vienna Convention	Rental desks in Dubai keep their own approved-country lists — always confirm with the rental company. Visitors driving a private (non-rental) car generally need an IDP regardless.
🇿🇦 South Africa	Depends on your licence	the 1949 Geneva Convention	Rental companies enforce the English-or-IDP rule strictly at pickup.

What to prepare

Check both the country's law and your rental company's policy
Bring your original national licence (always required)
Add a certified translation or an IDP as the rental firm requires
For non-Latin-script licences, assume a translation is needed
Match the driver name on the booking exactly to the licence

Check your exact route

License country × destination × vehicle — free, 1 minute.

Need your license translated?

Clearly-labeled translation companion — never a fake permit.

Frequently asked questions

Will Hertz or Avis accept my foreign licence without an IDP?

Sometimes, but major chains often require an IDP or a certified translation for foreign licences as company policy — especially non-English ones. Check the specific branch's policy and arrive with a document staff can read to avoid losing your booking.

Is a translation enough to rent a car?

Usually — a certified translation carried with your original licence gives the rental desk the categories and validity they need. A few countries' desks require the physical IDP booklet; confirm the destination first.

Do I need a translation if my licence is in English?

Often not, but it can still speed up the counter check. It's essentially required when your licence is in a non-Latin script that staff can't read.

Do I need an international driving permit for car rental in Europe?

With an EU/EEA licence, no. With a non-EU licence it depends on the country: Italy, Spain, Greece and Austria require the IDP (or an official translation) by law and their desks enforce it; France accepts a certified translation with a non-EU licence; the UK, Ireland and Portugal generally accept an English-language licence for short visits. The table above links to the sourced rule for each destination.

Which car rental companies require an IDP?

There is no single company-wide rule — the major chains state in their rental terms that an IDP or translation may be required for foreign or non-English licences, and the decision is taken by the branch in the destination country. Read the driver-requirements section of your booking terms, and assume the desk will ask in any country where the IDP is a legal requirement.

Can I rent a car with just a translation of my licence?

Where the law accepts a translation (France for non-EU licences, most English-speaking destinations for readable licences) a certified translation carried with your original licence is usually enough for the desk. Where the country requires the IDP itself — Italy, Greece, Japan, Indonesia among others — a translation does not replace it, and the desk will ask for the permit.

Does a confirmed reservation mean I won't be asked for an IDP?

No. The document check happens in person at pickup regardless of how you booked, and a desk that cannot verify your licence can refuse the car and keep the cancellation fee. Arrive with the documents the destination requires.

Government and authority sources

Also see our authorized issuer guidance for where to get a real IDP when your trip requires one.

Requirements vary by country. Carry your translation together with your original driving licence and passport; some countries require an official IDP issued by an authorised body in your country of licence. Information provided is general guidance. Always check local regulations for your destination.