Does Localiza require an IDP in Estonia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Estonia: 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.
Estonia drives on the right and keeps headlights on around the clock; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP alongside their national licence.
In Estonia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Estonia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Tallinn desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Estonia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Estonia 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 Estonia
- 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; Estonia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Estonia Localiza renters should know
- Headlights on day and night, all year.
- Winter tyres mandatory Dec–Mar.
- 0.02% alcohol limit.
- Reflective vest and 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 Estonia
Estonia has no road or motorway tolls for passenger cars, so no vignette is required to drive the national road network.
Cities like Tallinn use paid zones with kerbside machines and apps; pay-and-display or mobile payment is required on weekdays, parking is typically free on Sundays, and illegally parked cars are fined or towed.
Speeding fines are steep (up to around 400 EUR for over 21 km/h above a 50 km/h limit); phone use and no-seatbelt are fined, and camera-caught offences in a rental are billed back to the hirer with an admin fee.
Stop immediately and call 112 for police/ambulance; a police report is needed for injuries or significant damage, and you should complete the European Accident Statement form for the insurer.
Full driving guide for Estonia →