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Budget · Bosnia and Herzegovina

Does Budget require an IDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Daniel MercerWritten by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Yes, bring one
Many rental companies and local authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Budget will typically ask for it at the counter.
Budget in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Budget IDP policyBring an IDP (foreign drivers)
Budget footprintGlobal
Accepted format1968 Vienna
Minimum rental age18+ (surcharge under 25)
Drives on theRight

Budget in Bosnia and Herzegovina: the policy in plain terms

Asks for a licence translation when your licence is not in the Roman alphabet. Value rental brand operating in 120+ countries.

Driving is on the right and the country signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised alongside your licence for mountainous routes and frequent police checks.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Budget will typically ask for it at the counter. Sarajevo and Mostar desks ask for an IDP with non-EU licences.

Budget runs a global network; at its Bosnia and Herzegovina desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Bosnia and Herzegovina drives on the right, uses the BAM, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.

What to bring to the Budget counter in Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
  • Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
  • Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
  • Local payment for the BAM deposit; Bosnia and Herzegovina drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.

Driving rules in Bosnia and Herzegovina Budget renters should know

  • Headlights on at all times.
  • Carry a reflective vest, triangle and spare bulbs.
  • 0.03% alcohol limit.
  • Winter equipment mandatory Nov–Apr.

Budget's rental terms that affect your IDP booking

Minimum age & young-driver surcharge

Budget's published minimum rental age is 21 in most US states (18 in New York and Michigan), with renters under 25 paying a daily young-driver surcharge; typically around $27/day in most markets, but materially higher at corporate locations such as New York ($35/day for ages 21-24 and $84/day for 18-20) and Michigan ($28/day for 21-24 and $41/day for 18-20). No surcharge applies to drivers 25 and older.

Deposit & accepted cards

Budget requires a valid credit or debit card; renters under 25 must use a credit card and cannot use a debit card. Deposit type and amount vary by location, with a typical credit-card hold of roughly $80 plus estimated charges plus one extra day's charges, or a minimum near $300, whichever is greater.

Additional drivers

Budget allows up to two additional drivers per rental and a per-day additional-driver fee typically applies (varies by location), though it is commonly waived for a spouse or domestic partner; pre-authorized additional drivers must be a spouse/domestic partner, a fellow employee/employer, or a companion driver to a renter with a disability. Budget does not publish a fixed US-wide tenure requirement, but the driver must hold a valid, current full driver's licence, and many corporate-operated locations verify the renter's and additional drivers' records with the DMV before completing the rental.

Cross-border & one-way

Driving a Budget rental into Mexico is restricted to authorized corporate-account holders (no one-way rentals into Mexico), and Mexican auto liability insurance is required. Travel into Canada is permitted from many US locations with advance arrangement and Budget's consent, and a Canadian non-resident insurance card may be required; one-way cross-border drop-offs are availability-dependent and carry extra fees that must be authorized in the rental agreement.

IDP & foreign-licence rule

Budget generally requires a valid driver's licence, passport, and an International Driving Permit issued in the driver's name from their home country; EU residents renting within the EU may present either their EU licence alone or with an IDP. If the home-country licence is not written in the Roman alphabet, an IDP is mandatory to rent.

Once you collect the keys in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tolls & road charges

There is no vignette - tolls are paid at manual booths on tolled A1 motorway sections (e.g. Sarajevo-Zenica, Sarajevo-Tarcin, Banja Luka-Doboj); pay in cash in Convertible Marks (BAM) or euros, with most booths also accepting cards.

Parking in town

Towns like Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka use signed paid zones and car parks payable by ticket machine, SMS or attendant; spaces in old-town centres are scarce, so guarded lots or hotel parking are the safest option.

Fines & camera enforcement

Police issue on-the-spot fines for speeding, no seatbelt, daytime-headlight and phone offences, often payable in cash; the blood-alcohol limit is a strict 0.03% (zero for new and professional drivers), and headlights must be on 24/7 year-round.

If you have an accident

Dial 122 for police (124 ambulance, 112 general). Do not move vehicles, switch on hazard lights and set out the warning triangle; a police report is required for insurance, and any visible damage should be reported because driving a visibly damaged car out of the country can be questioned.

Full driving guide for Bosnia and Herzegovina

Common questions

01
Do I need an IDP to rent from Budget in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Many rental companies and local authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Budget will typically ask for it at the counter. Budget generally requires a valid driver's licence, passport, and an International Driving Permit issued in the driver's name from their home country; EU residents renting within the EU may present either their EU licence alone or with an IDP. If the home-country licence is not written in the Roman alphabet, an IDP is mandatory to rent.
02
What documents should I bring to the Budget desk in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bring your original national driving licence, your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format, your passport, and the payment card in the main driver's name. Bosnia and Herzegovina drives on the right and the minimum rental age is typically 18+.
03
What is the minimum age to rent from Budget in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Budget's published minimum rental age is 21 in most US states (18 in New York and Michigan), with renters under 25 paying a daily young-driver surcharge; typically around $27/day in most markets, but materially higher at corporate locations such as New York ($35/day for ages 21-24 and $84/day for 18-20) and Michigan ($28/day for 21-24 and $41/day for 18-20). No surcharge applies to drivers 25 and older. Locally, Bosnia and Herzegovina sets a minimum driving age of 18 and most desks add a young-driver surcharge under 25.
04
What deposit and card does Budget require?
Budget requires a valid credit or debit card; renters under 25 must use a credit card and cannot use a debit card. Deposit type and amount vary by location, with a typical credit-card hold of roughly $80 plus estimated charges plus one extra day's charges, or a minimum near $300, whichever is greater.
05
Can I take a Budget rental across the border or drop it one-way?
Driving a Budget rental into Mexico is restricted to authorized corporate-account holders (no one-way rentals into Mexico), and Mexican auto liability insurance is required. Travel into Canada is permitted from many US locations with advance arrangement and Budget's consent, and a Canadian non-resident insurance card may be required; one-way cross-border drop-offs are availability-dependent and carry extra fees that must be authorized in the rental agreement.
06
Does Budget charge for an additional driver?
Budget allows up to two additional drivers per rental and a per-day additional-driver fee typically applies (varies by location), though it is commonly waived for a spouse or domestic partner; pre-authorized additional drivers must be a spouse/domestic partner, a fellow employee/employer, or a companion driver to a renter with a disability. Budget does not publish a fixed US-wide tenure requirement, but the driver must hold a valid, current full driver's licence, and many corporate-operated locations verify the renter's and additional drivers' records with the DMV before completing the rental.
07
How do tolls work for a rental car in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
There is no vignette - tolls are paid at manual booths on tolled A1 motorway sections (e.g. Sarajevo-Zenica, Sarajevo-Tarcin, Banja Luka-Doboj); pay in cash in Convertible Marks (BAM) or euros, with most booths also accepting cards.
08
What happens if I get a traffic fine driving a Budget car in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Police issue on-the-spot fines for speeding, no seatbelt, daytime-headlight and phone offences, often payable in cash; the blood-alcohol limit is a strict 0.03% (zero for new and professional drivers), and headlights must be on 24/7 year-round.
09
What is Budget's general policy on International Driving Permits?
Asks for a licence translation when your licence is not in the Roman alphabet. Budget is part of Avis Budget Group, operating roughly 3,000+ locations across about 120 countries with a strong US airport presence, and offers the Budget Fastbreak loyalty program for expedited pickup.
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