Which documents do you need to rent a car abroad?

Renting a car abroad sounds simple: you book online, you fly over and you drive away. In practice, everything hinges on what happens at the counter with your paperwork. Anyone who turns up without the right documents risks the rental company simply refusing to hand over the car, even if everything has been paid in advance. And that money is usually not easy to get back. So it is well worth knowing exactly what is required before you leave.

For most people renting within Europe it is manageable, but there are a few stumbling blocks that come up again and again. The biggest of them has nothing to do with your driving licence and everything to do with your payment card. In this guide we go through, step by step, which documents you need, where to pay extra attention outside the EU, and what to arrange for a possible second driver. At the bottom you will find a complete checklist to tick off before you leave.

Your driving licence: a national or EU licence is enough within Europe

Within the European Union your ordinary national driving licence is in principle sufficient. The pink EU licence in bank-card format is recognised in every EU member state, and rental companies are familiar with it. If you still have the old paper or cardboard model, this is a good moment to have it replaced with the card model. An outdated or damaged licence can raise questions at the counter.

Watch the expiry date. EU card-model driving licences have to be renewed periodically (the document itself, not your right to drive). So check that the expiry date falls well after your travel period. Some rental companies also require that you have held the licence for a minimum number of years, often one to two years. That is set out in the rental terms and is mainly relevant for younger drivers.

International Driving Permit (IDP) outside the EU

Outside the EU the story changes. In countries such as the United States, Canada, Morocco and large parts of Asia an International Driving Permit (IDP) is often required. It is not a replacement for your national driving licence but an official translation of it, which you must always carry together with your ordinary licence.

You apply for an International Driving Permit at your local municipal office, at the same counter where you arrange your ordinary driving licence. You need your valid national driving licence, your ID card and usually a passport photo, and you pay a municipal fee. Allow for processing time: in many municipalities the document is not ready immediately, so apply well in advance, certainly several weeks before departure. The validity of an IDP is limited (typically a few years), so also check whether an older one is still valid.

ID card or passport

Besides your driving licence, the rental company will want to confirm your identity. Within the EU and Schengen your national ID card is usually enough, and you will be carrying it for the trip itself anyway. Outside the EU you need a valid passport, and that is often the document the rental company records.

Check well in advance that your ID card and passport are still valid. For some destinations your passport must also remain valid for a number of months after your return date. That is a travel requirement separate from the car rental, but you do not want an expired document throwing your whole trip into disarray.

The credit card: this is where it goes wrong most often

This is the most important section of this guide. The most common mistake when renting a car abroad has nothing to do with your driving licence and everything to do with your payment card. Almost every rental company requires a genuine credit card in the name of the main driver in order to block the deposit (the security hold).

Pay attention to these points, because each one can leave you without a car:

• It must be a genuine credit card, not a debit card and not a prepaid card. A debit card, or an ordinary bank card that looks like a Visa or Mastercard but is actually a debit card, is often refused. Not sure? Ask your bank explicitly.
• The card must be in the name of the main driver. The person who signs the contract and sits behind the wheel must also be the cardholder. A card belonging to your partner or parent is not enough, even if they are travelling with you.
• There must be enough available limit for the deposit. The rental company temporarily blocks an amount on your card. For larger or more expensive vehicles this can add up considerably. That blocked amount remains held for as long as the rental runs and cannot be spent during that period.
• The card must not expire during or just after your rental period. A card that expires within the month can cause problems.

How the deposit works exactly and what amounts you can expect is explained in detail in our guide on excess and the deposit. Read it before you leave, because the difference between a blocked amount and a charged amount is significant.

Booking confirmation or voucher

When you book online in advance, you receive a booking confirmation or voucher. It shows your reservation number, the type of vehicle, the rental period, the pick-up location and what is included in the price. Bring this document, either digitally on your phone or printed.

The voucher is your proof of what you reserved and paid for. It helps in disputes about the price, about included mileage or about insurance you did or did not take out. A printed copy can be handy if the internet is unreliable where you are, or if the counter explicitly asks for one.

Proof of address

Outside the EU in particular, rental companies sometimes ask for proof of your home address. This can be a recent bank statement, an energy or phone bill, or another official document showing your name and address. The underlying reason is fraud prevention and identity verification.

Within Europe this is less common, because your ID card already contains your address. If you are travelling to the US, Canada or another country outside the EU, check the rental terms in advance to see whether this is required. Having a recent document on hand (usually no older than a few months) is a small effort.

Documents for the second driver

If you want someone else to be allowed to drive too, for example your partner on a long road trip, that person must be registered as a driver on the contract. A second driver who is not on the contract is usually not insured, with all the consequences that brings in the event of an accident.

The second driver must be present at the counter with their own valid driving licence (and, outside the EU, possibly their own International Driving Permit) and proof of identity. At many rental companies an additional driver costs a surcharge per day. If that second driver is young, a young-driver surcharge can be added on top; you can read more about that in our guide on the young-driver surcharge. The credit card generally does not need to be in the name of the second driver, as long as the main driver presents a valid card in their own name.

Specific points to watch outside the EU

Outside Europe the rules vary widely. A few destinations that travellers often head to:

• United States and Canada: your national driving licence together with an International Driving Permit is the safest combination. A credit card in your name is almost always required for the deposit, and debit cards are regularly refused there.
• Morocco: an International Driving Permit is often recommended alongside your national licence. Keep your passport handy for the identity check.
• Asia: the situation differs greatly from country to country. In some countries an IDP is strictly required and checked, while in others driving as a tourist on a foreign licence is more awkwardly arranged. Look this up per country before you book.

In general: the further from home, the more important it is to check both the rules of the specific country and the rental company’s terms in advance. Do not rely on what applied in a neighbouring country.

Checklist: documents for a rental car abroad

Run through this list before you leave:

• Valid national (EU) card-model driving licence, valid for long enough
• International Driving Permit (IDP) if you are renting outside the EU, applied for in good time at your municipal office
• ID card (within the EU) or valid passport (outside the EU)
• Genuine credit card in the name of the main driver, not expired, with enough limit for the deposit
• Booking confirmation or voucher, digital or printed
• Proof of address if required (especially outside the EU)
• For the second driver: their own driving licence, proof of identity and registration on the contract
• Rental company’s terms and country-specific rules checked in advance

If you want to set off more broadly prepared, also read our 12 tips for renting a car abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Is my national driving licence enough abroad?

Within the European Union your national card-model driving licence is in principle sufficient. Outside the EU an International Driving Permit is often required in addition to your national licence. Always check the rules of the specific country and the rental company’s terms.

Can I rent a car with a debit card?

Usually not. The vast majority of rental companies require a genuine credit card in the name of the main driver in order to block the deposit. Debit and prepaid cards are often refused. When in doubt, ask your bank explicitly what type of card you have.

Where and how do I apply for an International Driving Permit?

You apply for the International Driving Permit at your municipal office, at the same counter as your ordinary driving licence. You need your valid national driving licence, your ID card and usually a passport photo. Allow for a processing time of several weeks, so apply well before departure.

Does the second driver have to present documents too?

Yes. The second driver must be present at the counter with their own valid driving licence and proof of identity, and must be registered on the rental contract. Without that registration they are usually not insured. The rental company often charges a surcharge for an additional driver.

Does my credit card have to be in the name of the main driver?

Yes, that is the rule at almost every rental company. The card used to block the deposit must be in the name of the person who signs the contract and is the main driver. A card belonging to a partner or family member is generally not accepted, even if they are travelling with you.