Does InterRent require an IDP in Sri Lanka?
InterRent in Sri Lanka: the policy in plain terms
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Sri Lanka drives on the left and asks foreign drivers to validate an IDP locally; tourists should carry one with their national licence.
In Sri Lanka specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Sri Lanka ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. An IDP usually needs to be endorsed by the AA of Ceylon before driving.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Sri Lanka desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Sri Lanka drives on the left, uses the LKR, 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 Sri Lanka
- 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 LKR deposit; Sri Lanka drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Sri Lanka InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- IDP needs a local validation/recognition permit.
- 0.06% alcohol limit.
- Watch for tuk-tuks, buses and animals.
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 Sri Lanka
Expressways (E01 Southern, E03 Airport, E02 Outer Circular) are tolled with cash booths and the contactless 'TAGRush'/expressway pass; tourists typically pay cash, with charges of a few hundred to roughly LKR 1,000+ depending on distance.
Urban parking in Colombo and tourist towns is largely paid on-street with attendants/wardens collecting cash, plus private and mall lots; unattended or restricted-zone parking can be ticketed or wheel-clamped.
Police issue on-the-spot fines (spot-fine slips paid later at post office or now via online/eRL channels) for speeding, no seatbelt and mobile-phone use; tourists driving without a valid Recognition Permit risk prosecution and rejected insurance claims.
In any injury accident you must stop, not move vehicles, and call Police on 119 (ambulance 1990 Suwa Seriya); a police report is needed for insurance, and driving without the Recognition Permit can void your claim and lead to prosecution.
Full driving guide for Sri Lanka →