Does InterRent require an IDP in Brunei?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Brunei: 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.
Brunei drives on the left; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence, and the sultanate enforces zero alcohol.
In Brunei specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Brunei ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Bandar Seri Begawan desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Brunei desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Brunei drives on the left, uses the BND, 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 Brunei
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the BND deposit; Brunei drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Brunei InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Zero alcohol tolerance.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Fuel is cheap but resold to foreigners at higher rates.
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 Brunei
Brunei has no toll roads or vignette system - the highways, including the Muara-Tutong and Telisai-Lumut links, are free to use.
Bandar Seri Begawan uses coin/voucher metered parking bays in the city centre during business hours, with free parking common in suburban and tourist areas; observe the painted bay colours and pay-and-display rules to avoid a ticket.
Seatbelts are compulsory, hand-held phone use is banned and speeding is camera- and patrol-enforced with fines; drink-driving is treated severely in this Muslim-majority sultanate. Rental firms pass camera fines back to the renter's card.
Call 993 for police; do not leave the scene of a road accident until officers attend, as a police report is mandatory for insurance and any injury claim. Ambulance is 991.
Full driving guide for Brunei →