Does Hertz require an IDP in Bulgaria?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Bulgaria: the policy in plain terms
Asks foreign drivers for a licence translation when the licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet, and often for non-EU renters in much of Europe. One of the largest global rental networks, operating in 150+ countries.
Bulgaria drives on the right and uses Cyrillic signage, so non-EU visitors should carry an IDP to translate their licence for desks and police.
In Bulgaria specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Bulgaria ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. An e-vignette is needed for highways; desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Bulgaria desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Bulgaria drives on the right, uses the BGN, 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 Hertz counter in Bulgaria
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the BGN deposit; Bulgaria drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Bulgaria Hertz renters should know
- Electronic vignette required on national roads.
- Headlights on day and night.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Reflective vest and triangle mandatory.
Hertz's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Hertz's standard minimum rental age in the US and Canada is 20, though it drops to 18 in Michigan, New York and Quebec, and 19 in Alabama and Nebraska. Renters aged 20-24 pay a Young Renter fee of about USD 19 per day, and under-25s are blocked from premium, luxury and high-performance car classes.
Hertz places a hold on the renter's card for the estimated rental charges plus a security deposit that varies by location and vehicle class; debit cards are accepted at many US locations but must be Visa, MasterCard or Discover branded, in the main driver's name, and carry sufficient available funds, with extra ID/credit checks sometimes required.
Hertz charges a per-day additional-driver fee that varies by location (commonly around USD 13.50/day in the US, capped per rental); in many markets a spouse/domestic partner can be added free, and the fee is often waived for Gold Plus Rewards members. Hertz requires each driver to hold a valid full driver's licence that has typically been held for at least one year, with longer tenure (often one to two years) required for some markets and premium vehicle classes.
Driving a Hertz vehicle across a country border (e.g. US to Canada or Mexico) requires advance permission and may incur a cross-border fee, and travel into Mexico generally requires separate Mexican insurance; one-way rentals are permitted on many routes but typically carry a drop-off/one-way charge.
Hertz states that a valid driver's licence issued by the renter's home country must always be presented; an International Driving Permit is recommended (and effectively required) when the home-country licence is not in the Roman alphabet or not in English, but Hertz will not rent on an IDP alone.
Once you collect the keys in Bulgaria
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.
Full driving guide for Bulgaria →