Does Hertz require an IDP in Lithuania?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Lithuania: 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.
Lithuania drives on the right and keeps headlights on year-round; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP alongside their licence.
In Lithuania specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Lithuania ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Vilnius desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Lithuania desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Lithuania 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 Lithuania
- 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; Lithuania drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Lithuania Hertz renters should know
- Headlights on day and night.
- Winter tyres mandatory Nov–Mar.
- 0.04% alcohol limit; zero for novice/professional drivers.
- 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 Lithuania
There is no toll or vignette for passenger cars - only trucks and buses need the e-vignette tied to the plate; driving a rental car costs nothing on the road network, though the truck e-vignette rose roughly 5-8% from 1 January 2026.
Vilnius Old Town sits in paid zones payable via meters or apps (e.g. m.Parking); never park on tram lines, within 15m of a bus stop or 5m of a junction, and use guarded car parks as break-ins occur.
Police can issue on-the-spot fines: speeding 20 km/h over starts around EUR 30 rising to EUR 450+ for 50 km/h over, and driving without a required (truck) vignette risks up to EUR 300. Camera fines for rentals are billed to the renter with a handling fee.
Call 112 for injuries; damage-only collisions need not involve police if both parties agree and complete the European Accident Statement, but you must notify the rental supplier and obtain an accident report, and leave vehicles in place where there is injury or dispute.
Full driving guide for Lithuania →