Does Hertz require an IDP in Estonia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Estonia: 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.
Estonia drives on the right and keeps headlights on around the clock; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP alongside their national licence.
In Estonia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Estonia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Tallinn desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Estonia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Estonia drives on the right, uses the EUR, 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 Estonia
- 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 EUR deposit; Estonia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Estonia Hertz renters should know
- Headlights on day and night, all year.
- Winter tyres mandatory Dec–Mar.
- 0.02% alcohol limit.
- Reflective vest and triangle required.
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 Estonia
Estonia has no road or motorway tolls for passenger cars, so no vignette is required to drive the national road network.
Cities like Tallinn use paid zones with kerbside machines and apps; pay-and-display or mobile payment is required on weekdays, parking is typically free on Sundays, and illegally parked cars are fined or towed.
Speeding fines are steep (up to around 400 EUR for over 21 km/h above a 50 km/h limit); phone use and no-seatbelt are fined, and camera-caught offences in a rental are billed back to the hirer with an admin fee.
Stop immediately and call 112 for police/ambulance; a police report is needed for injuries or significant damage, and you should complete the European Accident Statement form for the insurer.
Full driving guide for Estonia →