Does InterRent require an IDP in Austria?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Austria: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for non-EU and non-Roman-alphabet licences across its European locations. Europcar's value brand for leisure travellers in Europe.
Non-EU drivers should carry an IDP alongside their national licence in Austria.
In Austria specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Austria ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Requested for non-EU licences.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Austria desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Austria 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 InterRent counter in Austria
- 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; Austria drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Austria InterRent renters should know
- Motorway vignette (Pickerl) mandatory.
- Headlights recommended day and night.
- Reflective vest and triangle required.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.01% for novice drivers.
InterRent's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
InterRent's minimum rental age is typically 19-21 depending on country (19 in Spain, 21 in the UK and France), and drivers aged roughly 21-24 (24 and under in some markets) pay a young-driver surcharge that varies by location, for example around 8.50 EUR/day (max ~93 EUR) in Spain, 12.95 EUR/day (max ~181 EUR) in France, and about 35 GBP/day (max ~350 GBP) in the UK; some vehicle categories require drivers to be over 25.
A refundable security deposit is pre-authorised (held, not debited) on the main driver's credit card at pick-up; the card (Visa or Mastercard, sometimes Amex) must be in the main driver's name with an expiry date after the return date, and debit cards are not accepted because their rules do not fit InterRent's deposit policy.
Additional drivers must present their own valid driving licence at the counter and sign the rental agreement at pick-up; InterRent charges an extra-driver fee per day that varies by location, though it is frequently included in promotional/package rates. The main driver must have held a full, valid driving licence for a minimum of 12 months (one year) prior to picking up the vehicle.
Cross-border travel and one-way rentals are restricted and must be authorised in advance; cross-border fees and one-way drop-off charges apply and vary by route, with certain countries (typically higher-risk or non-EU destinations) excluded entirely under the rental conditions.
InterRent requires a full, valid driving licence held for at least 12 months; for licences not written in the Latin/Roman alphabet (or otherwise not understandable to the rental agent), an International Driving Permit (IDP) must be presented alongside the original national licence, as the IDP is a translation and never replaces the physical licence.
Once you collect the keys in Austria
All motorways and expressways require a vignette (digital or sticker): a 1-day digital vignette was introduced in 2025, plus 10-day, 2-month and annual options. Several Alpine routes (Brenner, Tauern, Arlberg tunnel, Grossglockner) charge separate tolls; driving without a vignette risks a minimum substitute toll/fine around EUR 120.
Cities use Kurzparkzone short-stay zones marked by blue lines and signs, paid by paper ticket/Parkschein or apps like HANDY Parken/EasyPark; Vienna's entire inner districts (1 to 9 and beyond) are a paid Kurzparkzone on weekdays. Illegal parking fines start around EUR 20 and wrongly parked cars are towed.
Police are strict and can demand immediate cash payment of fines up to about EUR 90 (a deposit for larger amounts); speeding, handheld phone use and no seatbelt are routinely enforced including by camera. Rental companies pass on camera fines with an administrative fee.
Call 133 for police or the pan-European 112 (ambulance 144); police must be called if anyone is injured or if drivers cannot agree, otherwise a police report is not mandatory for minor damage where details are exchanged. Place the warning triangle, wear the hi-vis vest, photograph the scene and complete the European Accident Statement; do not move vehicles if there are injuries.
Full driving guide for Austria →