Does Localiza require an IDP in Croatia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Croatia: 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.
Croatia drives on the right and accepts both conventions; non-EU drivers should hold an IDP, useful on the toll motorways linking the coast.
In Croatia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Croatia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Split and Dubrovnik desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Croatia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Croatia drives on the right, uses the EUR, 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 Croatia
- 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 EUR deposit; Croatia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Croatia Localiza renters should know
- Headlights on in winter and in poor visibility.
- Reflective vest and triangle required.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; zero for drivers under 24.
- Toll motorways along the Adriatic.
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 Croatia
Croatia still uses a ticket-based toll system on most motorways (A1/A3/A5/A6 etc.), not a vignette: take a ticket on entry and pay on exit by cash (euros) or card; an ENC electronic tag gives a discount. Costs vary by distance, e.g. roughly EUR 30+ for Zagreb to Split.
Cities use colour-coded paid zones controlled mainly by SMS/app: in Zagreb Zone 1 is about EUR 1.60/hr (max 2 hrs), Zone 2 about EUR 0.70/hr (max 3 hrs), with cheaper outer zones. Coastal towns get extremely congested in summer; illegal parking risks towing.
Foreign drivers face on-the-spot fines from about EUR 70 for moderate speeding up to roughly EUR 2,000 for extreme speeding; the alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l (0.0 for drivers under 25). Speed cameras typically tolerate only about 10 km/h over, and rental firms pass camera fines to the renter with an admin fee.
Call 112 (or police 192) and report any accident involving injury or significant damage; for minor damage-only crashes, move vehicles clear and complete a European Accident Statement form. Leaving the scene of an injury accident is a serious offence.
Full driving guide for Croatia →