Does Localiza require an IDP in Finland?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Finland: 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.
Finland drives on the right with mandatory daytime headlights; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and winter tyres are required in the cold months.
In Finland specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Finland ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Helsinki desks ask for an IDP for non-EU licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Finland desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Finland 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 Finland
- 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; Finland drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Finland Localiza renters should know
- Headlights on at all times.
- Winter tyres mandatory in winter conditions.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Watch for elk/reindeer on rural roads.
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 Finland
Finland has no toll roads, motorway tolls or vignette system anywhere in the country.
Paid parking is enforced strictly in Helsinki and larger cities via meters and apps; overstaying or non-payment brings fines roughly 40-80 EUR, and some zones require a parking disc clock.
On-the-spot police fines reach about 200 EUR, and serious speeding triggers day-fines scaled to income; camera fines on a rental are passed to the hirer.
Call 112 immediately for emergencies; police attendance is required for injuries or major damage, and drivers normally complete a joint accident report form for insurers.
Full driving guide for Finland →