Does Hertz require an IDP in France?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in France: 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.
Non-EU visitors should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence to drive or rent a car in France.
In France specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in France ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Major desks (Hertz, Europcar, Sixt) request an IDP for licences not issued in the EU/EEA.
Hertz runs a global network; at its France desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. France 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 France
- 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; France drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in France Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right; overtake on the left.
- Carry a reflective vest and warning triangle in the vehicle.
- Priority to the right (priorité à droite) applies at unmarked junctions.
- Strict 0.05% blood-alcohol limit (0.02% for new drivers).
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 France
Most autoroutes are tolled (peage), paid at booths by cash, card or contactless, or via a Liber-T electronic tag; long-distance trips can run EUR 30-60+. Take a ticket on entry and pay by distance on exit; green-arrow lanes are for tag holders only.
Paid on-street parking (stationnement payant) is bought from horodateur meters or apps like PayByPhone/Flowbird, often EUR 2-6/hour in cities; many central spaces are resident-only (zone residentielle). Overstaying triggers a forfait post-stationnement fine and persistent offenders risk towing (mise en fourriere).
On-the-spot fines are common for foreign drivers: speeding starts around EUR 68-135 (more for higher bands), handheld phone use EUR 135, no seatbelt EUR 135; police may demand immediate payment or a deposit. Radar/speed-camera fines are forwarded to the rental company, which passes them to you with an admin fee, and radar detectors are illegal.
Call 112 (or 15 SAMU / 17 police); police attendance is required if anyone is injured. For damage-only crashes complete and both-sign the constat amiable (European Accident Statement), do not move vehicles if there are injuries, and send the form to the insurer/rental firm within 5 days.
Full driving guide for France →