Does Hertz require an IDP in Finland?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Finland: 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.
Finland drives on the right with mandatory daytime headlights; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and winter tyres are required in the cold months.
In Finland specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Finland ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Helsinki desks ask for an IDP for non-EU licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Finland desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Finland 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 Finland
- 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; Finland drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Finland Hertz renters should know
- Headlights on at all times.
- Winter tyres mandatory in winter conditions.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Watch for elk/reindeer on rural roads.
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 Finland
Finland has no toll roads, motorway tolls or vignette system anywhere in the country.
Paid parking is enforced strictly in Helsinki and larger cities via meters and apps; overstaying or non-payment brings fines roughly 40-80 EUR, and some zones require a parking disc clock.
On-the-spot police fines reach about 200 EUR, and serious speeding triggers day-fines scaled to income; camera fines on a rental are passed to the hirer.
Call 112 immediately for emergencies; police attendance is required for injuries or major damage, and drivers normally complete a joint accident report form for insurers.
Full driving guide for Finland →