Does Europcar require an IDP in Palestine?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Europcar in Palestine: 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.
The Palestinian territories drive on the right; an IDP is advised with your licence, and routes cross Israeli checkpoints that affect travel.
In Palestine specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Palestine ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter. Rental is usually arranged via Israeli or local desks; carry an IDP and passport.
Europcar runs a europe / global network; at its Palestine desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Palestine drives on the right, uses the ILS, 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 Palestine
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the ILS deposit; Palestine drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Palestine Europcar renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Checkpoints affect routes and timing.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
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 Palestine
There are no toll roads or vignette system in the West Bank; main highways (including Route 60 and 443) are toll-free.
Paid street parking in Ramallah, Bethlehem and Nablus is marked and cheap, often collected by attendants or meters; in dense old-city cores parking is scarce, so use municipal lots to avoid towing.
Speeding, phone use and no-seatbelt fines are issued on the spot by Palestinian or Israeli traffic police depending on the road; rental firms pass on tickets plus an admin fee, and unpaid fines can complicate vehicle return.
Call Palestinian police on 100 (or Israeli police 100 on Israeli-administered highways) and do not move vehicles until documented; a police report is required for any insurance claim, and an Israeli rental car taken into PA-controlled cities is usually uninsured, leaving you liable for all damage.
Full driving guide for Palestine →