Does Hertz require an IDP in Italy?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Italy: 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.
Rental companies and local authorities in Italy routinely ask non-EU drivers to carry an IDP alongside their home licence.
In Italy specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Italy ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Italian traffic authorities typically expect the printed IDP booklet, not just a digital copy.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Italy desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Italy 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 Italy
- 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; Italy drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Italy Hertz renters should know
- ZTL (limited-traffic) zones in city centres are camera-enforced — heavy fines.
- Headlights required on motorways at all times.
- Carry a reflective jacket and warning triangle.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; zero for drivers under 21.
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 Italy
Most autostrade are tolled by distance: take a ticket at the white-signed entry and pay on exit by cash or card (Carte/blue lanes) or via a Telepass transponder in yellow lanes. Use Telepass lanes only if your rental includes the device; a Milan-Rome run costs roughly EUR 40-45.
Kerb lines signal the rule: blue lines are paid (meter or app, often EUR 1-3/hour), white lines are free, and yellow lines are reserved (residents/disabled). Pay at the parcometro or via apps like EasyPark; illegal parking risks fines and removal (rimozione forzata) by carro attrezzi.
Urban speeding fines start around EUR 45 and rise steeply on highways; handheld phone use is roughly EUR 165+ and can mean a licence suspension. Camera and ZTL fines arrive at the rental firm and are billed to you months later with an admin fee; a ~30% discount applies if paid within 5 days.
Call 112 for emergencies; police must be alerted if anyone is injured. For minor damage complete the CID/constatazione amichevole (European Accident Statement) signed by both drivers, photograph the scene, do not move vehicles if there are injuries, and report it to the rental company promptly.
Full driving guide for Italy →