Does Localiza require an IDP in Australia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Australia: the policy in plain terms
Asks foreign renters to present a licence translation with their home licence at the counter across Brazil and Latin America. The largest car-rental company in Latin America.
You may drive on a valid foreign licence; an IDP (with translation) is recommended if your licence is not in English.
In Australia specifically, australia lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but Localiza still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. Requested for non-English licences at all major chains.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Australia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Australia drives on the left, uses the AUD, and sets a minimum driving age of 18; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the Localiza counter in Australia
- 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 AUD deposit; Australia drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Australia Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Strict random breath testing; 0.05% limit.
- Speed cameras and mobile-phone cameras widespread.
- Watch for wildlife at dawn/dusk.
Localiza's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Localiza's minimum rental age is 18 (lowered from 21 across Brazil), but drivers under 21 must add the mandatory "Condutor Jovem" (Young Driver) surcharge at booking; the exact fee is set per rental/location and quoted at reservation rather than published as a flat amount.
A credit card (physical or contactless) in the reservation holder's or financial responsible party's name is required for a pre-authorization hold; debit cards are not accepted for the security guarantee. Customers without a credit card can instead pass a weekday business-hours credit evaluation, with daily rentals up to 28 days available for an approximately R$39.90 fee if approved.
Each additional driver must be registered on the contract and present a valid licence and ID at the counter; Localiza does not publish a flat additional-driver fee, charging it per rate plan and location at pickup. Localiza requires a valid full driver's licence but does not publish a fixed minimum holding period; instead the young-driver surcharge (under-21) is the gating control, so a valid current licence is the stated requirement.
Cross-border driving within Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) requires the mandatory "Carta Verde"/Green Card insurance and advance authorization, typically requested at booking; one-way rentals returning in a different country incur a one-way fee that is usually higher than the cross-border fee, so both must be arranged in advance.
Foreign customers must present a valid licence from a country in Brazil's "Reciprocity Agreement" plus a passport, and may drive for up to 180 days from their date of entry (respecting the original licence validity); entry must be proven with a passport stamp, boarding pass, or immigration approval document. An International Driving Permit is referenced under the applicable legislation for non-reciprocity or non-Roman-alphabet licences.
Once you collect the keys in Australia
Tolling is 100% electronic with no cash booths anywhere; rental cars usually have an e-tag or a number-plate account, so confirm at the desk or you'll be charged the toll plus video-matching admin fees of roughly AUD 0.30 to several dollars per trip.
City and beach parking is metered (pay by machine or apps like EasyPark/PayStay) with colour-signed clearway and resident-permit zones; ignoring signs risks fines and towing, while regional towns are often free.
Speeding fines run from about AUD 136 to over AUD 2,500, and illegal mobile-phone use is around AUD 423 in NSW and AUD 627 in Victoria, detected by automated cameras; rental firms forward camera fines to you and add an admin fee of roughly AUD 44-82.
Call 000 for any injury; you must stop and exchange details, and report to police if anyone is hurt, property is damaged and the owner isn't present, or a vehicle must be towed - do not leave the scene.
Full driving guide for Australia →