Does Localiza require an IDP in Hungary?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Hungary: 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.
Hungary drives on the right and enforces a zero-alcohol rule; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and motorways need an e-vignette.
In Hungary specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Hungary ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Budapest desks request an IDP for non-EU licences; e-vignette included with most rentals.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Hungary desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Hungary drives on the right, uses the HUF, 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 Hungary
- 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 HUF deposit; Hungary drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Hungary Localiza renters should know
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Motorway e-vignette required.
- Headlights on outside built-up areas.
- Reflective vest required when leaving a broken-down car.
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 Hungary
Motorways use an electronic e-vignette (e-matrica) bought online or at petrol stations for 10-day, monthly or annual periods; with no physical sticker, your plate is registered, and a mispurchase grace of 60 minutes applies before fines.
Budapest charges by zone, payable at machines or by SMS (often needing a Hungarian number); wheel clamps are used and illegally parked cars are towed, so garages in districts VII/VIII are recommended.
On-the-spot fines run up to about 300,000 HUF; drink-driving is zero-tolerance (0.00%), and driving without a valid e-matrica brings automatic penalties of roughly 75,000-150,000 HUF passed on by rental firms.
Call 112; police must be called for injuries or notable damage, all occupants leaving the car must wear a hi-vis vest, and a European accident statement should be completed.
Full driving guide for Hungary →