Does Budget require an IDP in Bulgaria?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Motorways and main roads require an electronic e-vignette tied to the number plate (no sticker); buy it online at bgtoll.bg, via app or at terminals/petrol stations before driving. Cars up to 3.5t pay about 15 leva weekend/weekly, 30 leva monthly or 97 leva annually, and a few bridges/tunnels have separate tolls.

Sofia uses Blue Zone (centre, ~2 euros/hr) and Green Zone (~1 euro/hr) paid parking, payable by SMS to 1302 (blue) or 1303 (green) with the plate, or via apps like URBO; overstaying risks a wheel clamp or tow, so confirm coverage of foreign-plated cars.

Police impose on-the-spot fines for speeding, phone use and no seatbelt; electronic speed-camera tickets carry a discount if paid within 14 days, and rental firms pass camera fines to the hirer along with an admin fee.

Call 112. For anything beyond trivial damage Bulgarian police (KAT) should attend and issue a report (protokol), which insurers and rental firms require; do not leave the scene, and use the warning triangle and hazard lights.