Does Hertz require an IDP in Sweden?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Sweden: 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.
Sweden drives on the right with daytime headlights mandatory year-round; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and the alcohol limit is among Europe's lowest.
In Sweden specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Sweden ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Stockholm desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Sweden desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Sweden drives on the right, uses the SEK, 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 Sweden
- 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 SEK deposit; Sweden drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Sweden Hertz renters should know
- Daytime headlights mandatory at all times.
- 0.02% alcohol limit — near zero.
- Winter tyres mandatory Dec–Mar.
- Congestion tax in Stockholm and Gothenburg.
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 Sweden
Stockholm and Gothenburg levy a congestion tax at camera stations on weekdays, plus bridge tolls (Oresund, Sundsvall, Motala); foreign-registered cars are billed via the EPASS24 partner, and rental firms typically pass charges on with a fee.
Urban parking is paid and zone-based, usually via apps (EasyPark, Parkster, Mobill) or meters; watch cleaning-day and residential signs, and illegal parking fines reach about SEK 1,400 (~EUR 125).
Speeding even 1 km/h over is finable, starting around SEK 2,000 and rising by band; holding a phone while driving is prohibited, seatbelts are compulsory, and police issue fixed on-the-spot fines.
Call 112 for injuries; exchange details and complete a European Accident Statement for minor crashes, and report to police if there are injuries, disputed fault, or damage to public property or wildlife (a duty to report animal collisions applies).
Full driving guide for Sweden →