Does Localiza require an IDP in Saudi Arabia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Saudi Arabia: 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.
Saudi Arabia drives on the right and bans alcohol entirely; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence to rent a car.
In Saudi Arabia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Saudi Arabia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Riyadh and Jeddah desks request an IDP for non-Arabic licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Saudi Arabia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Saudi Arabia drives on the right, uses the SAR, 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 Saudi Arabia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the SAR deposit; Saudi Arabia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Saudi Arabia Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero alcohol — it is prohibited nationwide.
- Saher speed cameras are extensive.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
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 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is rolling out electronic RFID toll tags on some expressways, but most intercity roads remain free; a tourist generally pays no tolls, and any charge is handled through the rental's tag.
Park only in designated and marked bays; major cities use paid parking apps and meters, and illegal parking brings fines and towing, with rental firms adding an admin fee.
Saher cameras automatically fine speeding, phone use and no seatbelt, with penalties commonly running into hundreds to thousands of riyals; rental firms forward camera fines plus a handling fee, and you must clear them via Absher before leaving.
Call traffic police on 993 (or 911 in major cities) and the Najm insurance service; do not move the vehicles until documented, as a Najm/police report is mandatory and rental firms levy a ~SAR 150 admin fee plus fines if not reported within 24 hours via Absher.
Full driving guide for Saudi Arabia →