Does Localiza require an IDP in Switzerland?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Switzerland: 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 visitors should carry an IDP to drive in Switzerland.
In Switzerland specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Switzerland ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Requested by major desks for non-EU licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Switzerland desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Switzerland drives on the right, uses the CHF, 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 Switzerland
- 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 CHF deposit; Switzerland drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Switzerland Localiza renters should know
- Motorway vignette required (sold at borders/petrol stations).
- Headlights on at all times, day and night.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.01% for new/professional drivers.
- Strict speed-camera enforcement.
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 Switzerland
No per-km tolls; a single annual motorway vignette (CHF 40, valid Dec 1 to Jan 31 of the following year) is mandatory for all motorways and is already fitted on rental cars. The Great St Bernard and Munt la Schera tunnels charge separate tolls.
White zones are paid (meter or apps like Parkingpay/TWINT); blue zones require a parking disc giving free limited stay (typically 1 hour) during posted hours. Yellow markings are private/no-parking and cars are towed.
Speeding is fined on graduated bands and serious excess (e.g. 25+ km/h over in town) can mean criminal proceedings and licence seizure; handheld phone use and no seatbelt draw on-the-spot fines around CHF 100. Police can collect cash on the spot and rental firms pass camera fines on with an admin fee.
Call police on 117 (rescue 144, fire 118); police must be called for any injury and for anything beyond minor bodywork damage. Place the warning triangle at least 50 m back (100 m on fast roads), photograph the scene and complete the European Accident Statement (recommended, not compulsory). Do not move vehicles if there are injuries.
Full driving guide for Switzerland →