Does Localiza require an IDP in Hong Kong?
Localiza in Hong Kong: 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.
Hong Kong drives on the left and accepts the IDP for short visits; tourists should carry one with their national licence.
In Hong Kong specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Hong Kong ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive rental is limited; an IDP is expected where available.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Hong Kong desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Hong Kong drives on the left, uses the HKD, 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 Hong Kong
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the HKD deposit; Hong Kong drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Hong Kong Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Tunnels and bridges carry tolls.
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 Hong Kong
Hong Kong has numerous toll tunnels and roads (fees roughly HK$0-HK$75 depending on tunnel and vehicle) now moving to the cashless HKeToll system, where a vehicle tag is read automatically and billed. Rental cars are tag-equipped and tolls are charged back to the renter.
On-street metered bays (30 minutes to 2 hours) are paid by Octopus card or the app, and commercial car parks dominate, with busy-area hourly rates above HK$50. Illegal parking draws a fixed penalty (raised to HK$400 from 2026), wheel-clamping or towing.
Fixed-penalty speeding fines run HK$320 (up to 15 km/h over) to HK$1,000 (over 45 km/h over), with demerit points and possible disqualification; phone use and no seatbelt are also penalised. Rental firms forward camera/fixed-penalty notices to the renter plus an admin fee.
Dial 999 for emergencies; you must stop, exchange details, and report any accident to police within 24 hours (immediately if there is injury). A police report is needed for the rental company and any insurance claim.
Full driving guide for Hong Kong →