Does Sixt require an IDP in Belgium?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Belgium: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Premium European brand with a fast-growing global network.
Belgium drives on the right and honours both driving conventions; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and the famous priority-to-the-right rule trips up newcomers.
In Belgium specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Belgium ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Brussels desks request an IDP for licences issued outside the EU/EEA.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Belgium desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Belgium 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 Sixt counter in Belgium
- 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; Belgium drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Belgium Sixt renters should know
- Priority to the right at unmarked junctions.
- Reflective vest and warning triangle required.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Low-emission zones in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent.
Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Minimum age is region-specific: typically 21 in the US (18 in New York, where an under-25 fee still applies) and 18 in much of continental Europe such as Germany and France; drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly USD 25-30 per day in the US (about GBP 36 per rental in the UK, around EUR 5-6 per day in markets like Cyprus), and under-25s are usually limited to economy through full-size sedans, midsize SUVs and minivans.
A credit or debit card in the main driver's name must be presented at pickup; Sixt holds a security deposit of at least USD 200 plus the rental amount on the card, with substantially higher holds on premium/high-value vehicles, and debit-card acceptance and limits vary by branch and vehicle class.
A per-rental additional-driver fee applies; extra drivers can be added at any Sixt branch during the rental provided the main driver is present and the additional driver shows a valid licence (some European markets waive the fee for a spouse/partner). The driver must typically have held a full valid licence for at least 1 year (rising to 2-3 years in higher-risk markets such as Cyprus, while Germany requires the licence be held only since at least the day before pickup).
Most Sixt passenger vehicles may be driven across borders into listed neighbouring countries (e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy within Europe), but you must notify and get authorisation from the pickup branch in advance; a cross-border and/or one-way drop-off fee applies, and certain vehicle classes and destination countries are restricted.
Sixt does not require an International Driving Permit everywhere, but states that where local law requires it the IDP must be carried alongside the original home licence; if the licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.) the renter must present an IDP or an official translation, and an official translation is also required if the issuing country is not party to the international driving-permit treaty.
Once you collect the keys in Belgium
There are no motorway tolls for cars; the only paid road is the Liefkenshoektunnel near Antwerp (around 6 euros). However, Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent operate Low Emission Zones where foreign and rental cars must be registered online before entry or face fines of roughly 150-350 euros.
Cities use paid meter/app zones plus blue zones where a cardboard parking disc gives free time-limited parking (commonly 2 hours); pay via apps like 4411, Seety or Parking.brussels. Overstaying or no disc in a blue zone costs about 37 euros per period.
Police can impose immediate fines on non-residents (paid on the spot for a receipt, otherwise you go to court), with speeding starting around 53 euros and phone/seatbelt offences over 100 euros; camera fines on rental cars are billed to the hirer after the agency hands over your details.
Dial 112 for police/ambulance. Complete the European Accident Statement (constat amiable) with the other driver - the Belgian insurers' Crashform app can file it electronically - and call police if there are injuries, disputes or a foreign/uninsured vehicle.
Full driving guide for Belgium →