Does Europcar require an IDP in Uzbekistan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Europcar in Uzbekistan: 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.
Uzbekistan drives on the right under the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised to translate non-Latin-script licences for desks and police.
In Uzbekistan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Uzbekistan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter. Tashkent desks ask for an IDP with non-Latin-script licences.
Europcar runs a europe / global network; at its Uzbekistan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Uzbekistan drives on the right, uses the UZS, 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 Uzbekistan
- 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 UZS deposit; Uzbekistan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Uzbekistan Europcar renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
- Headlights on outside cities.
- 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 Uzbekistan
Most highways are toll-free, though a few city-bypass and new express routes charge small cash tolls of a few thousand som (well under a euro); Uzbekistan is only now developing dedicated toll motorways and tunnels. There is no national vignette.
Parking in Tashkent is limited and can be costly, with paid attendant lots at malls and commercial centres collecting cash; there are no widely used colour-coded zones. Read signs carefully, as illegally parked cars are towed in central districts.
Speeding fines scale with how far over the limit you are, and police levy on-the-spot penalties for phone use and no seatbelt; insist on a receipt. Camera fines and any unpaid penalties are typically charged back through the rental company's deposit.
Dial 112 (unified emergency) or 102 for police; reporting a crash to the traffic police is mandatory and you must leave vehicles in place until officers document the scene. Get the official report for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Uzbekistan →