Does Hertz require an IDP in Netherlands?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Netherlands: 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.
Carry an IDP with your licence if it was issued outside the EU.
In Netherlands specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Netherlands ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Requested for non-EU licences at Schiphol and city desks.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Netherlands desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Netherlands 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 Netherlands
- 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; Netherlands drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Netherlands Hertz renters should know
- Watch for cyclists — they have extensive right of way.
- Trams have priority.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.02% for novice drivers.
- Low-emission zones in major cities.
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 Netherlands
There are no general motorway tolls or vignette; only two crossings charge fees, the Westerschelde Tunnel and the Kil Tunnel near Dordrecht, paid by card or app. Otherwise the motorway network is free to use.
City street parking is paid via meter or apps such as ParkMobile/Yellowbrick and is among Europe's most expensive (central Amsterdam can exceed EUR 7 per hour). Blue zones need a disc for a free limited stay, and residential permit zones are enforced by scanning cars; overstays bring roughly EUR 70 fines.
Fines rose sharply from January 2026; handheld phone use is around EUR 430, no seatbelt and speeding carry heavy penalties, and enforcement uses extensive fixed and mobile/average-speed cameras. Fines are not collected on the spot from cars with foreign plates but are billed; rental firms forward camera fines with a handling charge.
Call 112 for injuries or blocked roads; for minor damage exchange details and jointly complete the schadeformulier (European Accident Statement) rather than calling police. Move vehicles out of live traffic where safe, but leave them in place and photograph the scene if fault is disputed.
Full driving guide for Netherlands →