Does Hertz require an IDP in Hungary?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Hungary: 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.
Hungary drives on the right and enforces a zero-alcohol rule; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and motorways need an e-vignette.
In Hungary specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Hungary ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Budapest desks request an IDP for non-EU licences; e-vignette included with most rentals.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Hungary desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Hungary drives on the right, uses the HUF, 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 Hungary
- 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 HUF deposit; Hungary drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Hungary Hertz renters should know
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Motorway e-vignette required.
- Headlights on outside built-up areas.
- Reflective vest required when leaving a broken-down car.
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 Hungary
Motorways use an electronic e-vignette (e-matrica) bought online or at petrol stations for 10-day, monthly or annual periods; with no physical sticker, your plate is registered, and a mispurchase grace of 60 minutes applies before fines.
Budapest charges by zone, payable at machines or by SMS (often needing a Hungarian number); wheel clamps are used and illegally parked cars are towed, so garages in districts VII/VIII are recommended.
On-the-spot fines run up to about 300,000 HUF; drink-driving is zero-tolerance (0.00%), and driving without a valid e-matrica brings automatic penalties of roughly 75,000-150,000 HUF passed on by rental firms.
Call 112; police must be called for injuries or notable damage, all occupants leaving the car must wear a hi-vis vest, and a European accident statement should be completed.
Full driving guide for Hungary →