Does Hertz require an IDP in Vatican City?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Vatican City: 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.
The world's smallest state drives on the right but has virtually no public roads to drive; visitors enter Rome's road network, where Italian rules and IDPs apply.
In Vatican City specifically, vatican City lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but Hertz still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. No rental desks exist; cars are hired in Rome under Italian requirements.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Vatican City desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Vatican City drives on the right, uses the EUR, and sets a minimum driving age of 18; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the Hertz counter in Vatican City
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the EUR deposit; Vatican City drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Vatican City Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Effectively pedestrian within the walls.
- Italian rules apply on surrounding roads.
- 0.05% alcohol limit (Italian standard).
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 Vatican City
There are no tolls within the city-state; you only encounter Italy's autostrada tolls (Telepass or cash/card barriers) when driving toward Rome.
No tourist parking exists inside the Vatican; park in nearby Rome garages such as Garage San Pietro or the Vatican Museums lot (around EUR 20/day) and walk in.
Because tourists drive in surrounding Italy, Italian penalties apply: speeding fines start around EUR 40-170 and rise with severity, handheld phone use and no seatbelt are fined, and ZTL camera fines plus rental admin fees arrive by post.
For any incident at the edge of the enclave call Italy's 112; in Italy you exchange details on a CAI/European Accident Statement and must not move vehicles before documenting if there are injuries.
Full driving guide for Vatican City →