Does Europcar require an IDP in Japan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Europcar in Japan: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for non-EU and non-Latin-alphabet licences across its European network. Europe's leading mobility brand.
Japan accepts only the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP issued in your country of residence, and certain nationalities need an official JAF translation instead; our certified translation is not a substitute for the government-issued permit Japan requires.
In Japan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Japan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter. A 1949 Geneva IDP issued in your home country is expected; French, German, Swiss, Belgian, Taiwanese, Monégasque, Slovenian and Estonian licences need a JAF translation.
Europcar runs a europe / global network; at its Japan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Japan drives on the left, uses the JPY, 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 Europcar counter in Japan
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the JPY deposit; Japan drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Japan Europcar renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol law — severe penalties.
- Stop fully at all railway crossings.
- Expressway tolls via ETC or cash.
Europcar's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Europcar's typical minimum rental age is 21 (some categories and countries allow rental from 18 on selected vehicles), and a Young Driver Surcharge applies to drivers aged roughly 22 to 25 - published at around EUR 30 per day in addition to the rental cost, with the exact amount varying by country per the local Specific Terms.
Europcar accepts only a credit card in the main driver's name (valid with an expiry date after the scheduled return) for the deposit; the deposit amount is blocked - not debited - on the card at pick-up, or within 48 hours before pick-up for Online Check-In, and debit cards are generally not accepted for the security deposit.
Only drivers registered on the rental contract may drive the car, and each additional driver must meet the same age and licence-held requirements; an additional-driver fee typically applies and is set per country. The driver must have held a full valid driving licence for at least one year (the from-18 categories also require one year's licence holding).
Cross-border travel must be declared and authorised, and in the UK taking a vehicle abroad requires the mandatory Europdrive product (24/7 overseas breakdown cover plus VE103B proof of ownership and a Green Card); for one-way rentals a one-way fee is charged and is included in the displayed price when pickup and return locations differ.
Europcar requires a full valid licence held at least one year; if the licence is not written in English (or the language of the country of rental) the driver must present an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside the original national licence - this typically applies to non-Roman/non-Latin-alphabet licences, while an IDP is usually not required to drive within the EU.
Once you collect the keys in Japan
Expressways (NEXCO) are extensively tolled and expensive (Tokyo-Osaka is well over 10,000 JPY); pay cash at booths or rent an ETC card from the rental firm (about 300-550 JPY) for the pre-installed ETC reader to use automatic green-lit gates and discounts.
On-street parking is largely banned; use coin/'times' lots that lock the tyre until you pay at the machine, with rates from a few hundred yen per 30-60 minutes. Residents need a proof-of-parking 'shako shomei' certificate, but tourists simply use paid garages and must never leave a car at the kerb.
Speeding fines run from about 9,000-15,000+ JPY (and criminal charges for large excesses), mobile-phone use and no-seatbelt are fined, and the drink-drive limit is a very strict 0.03% with severe penalties for driver and even passengers. Camera/parking fines are billed to the renter; minor on-the-spot fines are paid at a bank, not in cash to police.
Call 110 for police and 119 for ambulance/fire; reporting every accident to police is legally mandatory and you cannot get an insurance certificate without it. Do not leave the scene and do not privately settle injuries - move the car off the carriageway only if safe, then wait for police.
Full driving guide for Japan →