Does Sixt require an IDP in Czechia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Czechia: 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.
Czechia drives on the right and enforces a strict zero-alcohol rule; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and a motorway vignette is required.
In Czechia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Czechia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Prague desks request an IDP for non-EU licences; e-vignette comes with most rentals.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Czechia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Czechia drives on the right, uses the CZK, 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 Czechia
- 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 CZK deposit; Czechia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Czechia Sixt renters should know
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Motorway e-vignette required.
- Headlights on at all times.
- Reflective vest and triangle mandatory.
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 Czechia
An electronic motorway vignette (dalnicni znamka), linked to the number plate with no sticker, is required on motorways: 2026 prices for cars are about CZK 230 for 1 day, 300 for 10 days, 480 for 30 days and 2,570 yearly. Buy it online at edalnice.cz, at petrol stations or post offices.
Prague uses coloured zones managed via the Virtual Parking Hours app: orange/purple are paid visitor zones and blue zones are resident-only with a limited 3-hour visitor option. Rates run from about CZK 80/hour in Praha 1 down to CZK 20-40 in outer districts.
Czechia enforces a strict 0.0 alcohol limit and heavy fines - serious offences can run into tens of thousands of crowns with on-the-spot collection possible. Speed cameras are common and rental firms pass camera and parking fines to the renter with an administration charge.
Call 112 (or police 158); police attendance is mandatory if there is injury, damage above CZK 100,000, or damage to a third party's or public property. For minor damage-only crashes, complete a European Accident Statement and exchange details.
Full driving guide for Czechia →