Does InterRent require an IDP in Singapore?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Singapore: 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.
Singapore drives on the left and accepts the IDP for short visits; tourists should carry one with their national licence.
In Singapore specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Singapore ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Desks request an IDP for non-English licences; ERP road pricing applies.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Singapore desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Singapore drives on the left, uses the SGD, 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 Singapore
- 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 SGD deposit; Singapore drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Singapore InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries charge in busy areas.
- 0.08% alcohol limit, strictly enforced.
- Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants.
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 Singapore
Singapore uses Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries that deduct charges automatically; rental cars come fitted with an In-Vehicle Unit and a stored-value (NETS/CEPAS) card that must hold sufficient credit, or fines arrive by post.
Urban parking mixes Electronic Parking System (EPS) carparks deducting from the same stored-value card, the URA Parking.sg app for street/coupon zones, and HDB/URA paid lots; illegal or expired parking risks fines and towing.
From January 2026 speeding up to 20 km/h over draws fines from SGD 200 plus 6 demerit points; holding any mobile device (phone, tablet, smartwatch) while driving is illegal, and camera-captured offences are billed to the rental company and passed to the hirer with an admin fee.
For accidents with fatalities or serious injury requiring hospitalisation, calling police on 999 is mandatory; minor accidents need not involve police but should be reported to the Traffic Police (6547 0000) and the rental firm, and you must not obstruct traffic unnecessarily.
Full driving guide for Singapore →