Does Localiza require an IDP in Spain?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Spain: 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.
Non-EU tourists are commonly asked for an IDP alongside their licence in Spain and by most car-rental desks.
In Spain specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Spain ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Hertz, Enterprise and Alamo ask for an IDP for non-EU licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Spain desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Spain 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 Spain
- 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; Spain drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Spain Localiza renters should know
- Two warning triangles and a reflective vest must be carried.
- Spare pair of glasses required if you wear them to drive.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.03% for novice drivers.
- Roundabouts: yield to traffic already circulating.
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 Spain
Many former toll autopistas (AP) are now free, but remaining toll roads take cash and cards at booths, while newer free-flow gantry stretches require online payment within about 72 hours. Miss the window and the bill, plus an admin fee, is passed through the rental company; typical tolls run EUR 5-25.
Kerbside zona azul (blue) is short-stay paid parking and zona verde (green) favours residents; pay at the meter or via apps and display the ticket. Secure blue-P underground car parks cost roughly EUR 20-28 per 24h, and leaving a car in a regulated zone overnight risks a fine or grua (tow).
A 50% discount applies if a fine is paid within 20 days; police may demand on-the-spot payment from foreign drivers and can immobilise the car until paid. Phone use and no-seatbelt fines run into the low hundreds of euros, and under EU cross-border enforcement unpaid fines can be pursued back home.
Call 112; police must attend if there are injuries. For damage-only crashes complete the declaracion amistosa de accidente (European Accident Statement) signed by both drivers, photograph the scene, avoid moving vehicles when anyone is hurt, and notify the rental firm; carry and wear the reflective vest when exiting on a road.
Full driving guide for Spain →