Does Localiza require an IDP in Czechia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Czechia: 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.
Czechia drives on the right and enforces a strict zero-alcohol rule; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and a motorway vignette is required.
In Czechia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Czechia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Prague desks request an IDP for non-EU licences; e-vignette comes with most rentals.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Czechia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Czechia drives on the right, uses the CZK, 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 Czechia
- 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 CZK deposit; Czechia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Czechia Localiza renters should know
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Motorway e-vignette required.
- Headlights on at all times.
- 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 Czechia
An electronic motorway vignette (dalnicni znamka), linked to the number plate with no sticker, is required on motorways: 2026 prices for cars are about CZK 230 for 1 day, 300 for 10 days, 480 for 30 days and 2,570 yearly. Buy it online at edalnice.cz, at petrol stations or post offices.
Prague uses coloured zones managed via the Virtual Parking Hours app: orange/purple are paid visitor zones and blue zones are resident-only with a limited 3-hour visitor option. Rates run from about CZK 80/hour in Praha 1 down to CZK 20-40 in outer districts.
Czechia enforces a strict 0.0 alcohol limit and heavy fines - serious offences can run into tens of thousands of crowns with on-the-spot collection possible. Speed cameras are common and rental firms pass camera and parking fines to the renter with an administration charge.
Call 112 (or police 158); police attendance is mandatory if there is injury, damage above CZK 100,000, or damage to a third party's or public property. For minor damage-only crashes, complete a European Accident Statement and exchange details.
Full driving guide for Czechia →