Does Localiza require an IDP in Denmark?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Denmark: 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.
Denmark drives on the right with daytime headlights required year-round; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP with their licence.
In Denmark specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Denmark ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Copenhagen desks ask for an IDP for non-EU licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Denmark desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Denmark drives on the right, uses the DKK, 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 Denmark
- 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 DKK deposit; Denmark drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Denmark Localiza renters should know
- Daytime running lights mandatory.
- Watch for cyclists at junctions.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Warning triangle required.
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 Denmark
Denmark has no motorway tolls or vignette; charges apply only at two bridges - the Storebaelt/Great Belt (Funen-Zealand) at about DKK 260 one-way for a car, and the Oresund bridge to Sweden at about DKK 540. Pay by card or automatic plate recognition at the toll plaza; no booking needed.
Towns use paid zones via apps (EasyPark, ParkMan) and pay-and-display; a parking disc on the dashboard is required in free time-limited bays - available at petrol stations and kiosks. Copenhagen parking is expensive and restricted, with zones signposted and active enforcement.
Speeding fines are steep and percentage-based on the overage, easily exceeding DKK 2,000, with gross speeding risking vehicle confiscation; the alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l. Speed cameras and police are active, and rental companies forward camera fines to the renter with a handling fee.
Call 112 for emergencies/injury; for minor damage exchange details and complete a European Accident Statement. Do not leave the scene, and report to police where there is injury, dispute, or a parked/unidentified other party.
Full driving guide for Denmark →