Does InterRent require an IDP in Romania?
InterRent in Romania: 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.
Romania drives on the right and requires an e-vignette (rovinietă); non-EU visitors should carry an IDP with their national licence.
In Romania specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Romania ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Bucharest desks request an IDP for non-EU licences; rovinietă usually included.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Romania desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Romania drives on the right, uses the RON, 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 Romania
- 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 RON deposit; Romania drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Romania InterRent renters should know
- Road vignette (rovinietă) required.
- Headlights on outside built-up areas.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol policy (0.0%).
- Reflective vest and triangle mandatory.
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 Romania
Romania uses the electronic Rovinieta vignette (no physical sticker) required on national roads for all vehicles except motorcycles; buy online at e-rovinieta.ro or at fuel stations for 7-day, 30-day, 90-day or annual terms. Driving without it risks a fine of at least about 50 EUR. The Fetești-Cernavodă bridge has a separate toll.
Bucharest uses pay-and-display zones with varying tariffs and app payment; park on the right in the direction of traffic. Illegal parking is fined and cars are towed, especially in the centre.
Fines scale by penalty-point bands: speeding 50+ km/h over the limit can cost around 265+ EUR with 9-20 points and a 90-day licence suspension; phone use and no seatbelt are ticketed. Rental firms forward camera fines to the renter.
Call 112 for any injury, unsettleable damage or blocked traffic; police notification is mandatory for accidents with death or injury. Photograph the scene, exchange insurance/registration details, and use the amicable European report only for minor agreed damage.
Full driving guide for Romania →