Does Localiza require an IDP in Bulgaria?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Bulgaria: 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.
Bulgaria drives on the right and uses Cyrillic signage, so non-EU visitors should carry an IDP to translate their licence for desks and police.
In Bulgaria specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Bulgaria ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. An e-vignette is needed for highways; desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Bulgaria desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Bulgaria drives on the right, uses the BGN, 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 Localiza counter in Bulgaria
- 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 BGN deposit; Bulgaria drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Bulgaria Localiza renters should know
- Electronic vignette required on national roads.
- Headlights on day and night.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Reflective vest and triangle mandatory.
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 Bulgaria
Motorways and main roads require an electronic e-vignette tied to the number plate (no sticker); buy it online at bgtoll.bg, via app or at terminals/petrol stations before driving. Cars up to 3.5t pay about 15 leva weekend/weekly, 30 leva monthly or 97 leva annually, and a few bridges/tunnels have separate tolls.
Sofia uses Blue Zone (centre, ~2 euros/hr) and Green Zone (~1 euro/hr) paid parking, payable by SMS to 1302 (blue) or 1303 (green) with the plate, or via apps like URBO; overstaying risks a wheel clamp or tow, so confirm coverage of foreign-plated cars.
Police impose on-the-spot fines for speeding, phone use and no seatbelt; electronic speed-camera tickets carry a discount if paid within 14 days, and rental firms pass camera fines to the hirer along with an admin fee.
Call 112. For anything beyond trivial damage Bulgarian police (KAT) should attend and issue a report (protokol), which insurers and rental firms require; do not leave the scene, and use the warning triangle and hazard lights.
Full driving guide for Bulgaria →