Does InterRent require an IDP in Russia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Russia: 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.
Russia drives on the right under the 1968 Vienna Convention and uses Cyrillic, so an IDP helps translate non-Cyrillic licences for desks and police.
In Russia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Russia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Desks ask for an IDP for any non-Cyrillic licence.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Russia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Russia drives on the right, uses the RUB, 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 Russia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the RUB deposit; Russia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Russia InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Headlights on at all times.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
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 Russia
Most roads are free, but several modern highways (e.g. the M11 Neva Moscow-St Petersburg and M4 Don sections) are tolled; pay cash or card at toll plazas, or use a T-pass/Transponder transponder for the barrier lanes.
Central Moscow and St Petersburg have paid zones marked by blue signs, paid via the Moscow Parking app, parkomat machines or SMS; unpaid or wrongly parked cars are ticketed by camera and frequently towed to an impound lot.
Foreign drivers face common fines such as roughly 500 RUB for no seatbelt, 1,500 RUB for handheld phone use and 500-5,000 RUB for speeding bands; many are camera-issued, and rental firms deduct camera penalties plus an admin fee from your card.
Dial 112 (general emergency) or 102 for police; you must call the traffic police (GIBDD, formerly GAI) and obtain their report, and you must not move the vehicles until they document the scene unless a minor crash qualifies for the Europrotokol self-report form.
Full driving guide for Russia →