Does Europcar require an IDP in Macau?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Europcar in Macau: 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.
Macau drives on the left and accepts the IDP for short visits; tourists should carry one, though the territory is small and best explored on foot.
In Macau specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Macau ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive rental is limited; an IDP is expected where available.
Europcar runs a europe / global network; at its Macau desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Macau drives on the left, uses the MOP, 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 Macau
- 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 MOP deposit; Macau drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Macau Europcar renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Strict drink-driving penalties.
- Narrow, congested streets.
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 Macau
Macau has no toll roads within the territory; the only toll is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge for cross-border vehicles, which most tourists use by shuttle bus rather than driving themselves.
Street parking is metered (paid by coins or the macaupass/Mpay app) with typical 1-2 hour limits, and public multi-storey 'auto-silo' garages are the practical option; parking at junctions, within 5 m of an intersection, or on bridges, flyovers and tunnels is prohibited and ticketed.
Speeding, phone use and seatbelt violations draw fixed fines (commonly several hundred to over a thousand MOP) and licence points, with extensive speed and red-light cameras; rental firms charge any camera fines plus an administration fee to the renter's card.
Dial 999 (also 110 or 112) for police and ambulance; for any injury or disputed-fault collision leave the vehicles in place and wait for the police to attend and produce a report, which the rental company and insurer will require.
Full driving guide for Macau →