Does Sixt require an IDP in Estonia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Estonia: 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.
Estonia drives on the right and keeps headlights on around the clock; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP alongside their national licence.
In Estonia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Estonia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Tallinn desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Estonia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Estonia 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 Estonia
- 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; Estonia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Estonia Sixt renters should know
- Headlights on day and night, all year.
- Winter tyres mandatory Dec–Mar.
- 0.02% alcohol limit.
- Reflective vest and triangle required.
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 Estonia
Estonia has no road or motorway tolls for passenger cars, so no vignette is required to drive the national road network.
Cities like Tallinn use paid zones with kerbside machines and apps; pay-and-display or mobile payment is required on weekdays, parking is typically free on Sundays, and illegally parked cars are fined or towed.
Speeding fines are steep (up to around 400 EUR for over 21 km/h above a 50 km/h limit); phone use and no-seatbelt are fined, and camera-caught offences in a rental are billed back to the hirer with an admin fee.
Stop immediately and call 112 for police/ambulance; a police report is needed for injuries or significant damage, and you should complete the European Accident Statement form for the insurer.
Full driving guide for Estonia →