Does Sixt require an IDP in Laos?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Laos: 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.
Laos drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, though recognition is inconsistent and many travellers hire drivers.
In Laos specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Laos ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Vientiane desks request an IDP; carry passport and home licence too.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Laos desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Laos drives on the right, uses the LAK, 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 Laos
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the LAK deposit; Laos drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Laos Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Helmets mandatory for motorbikes.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Livestock and pedestrians on rural roads.
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 Laos
Laos has very limited tolling: the Vientiane-Vang Vieng Expressway charges a distance-based toll paid in cash or by card at booths, while ordinary national highways are free.
Parking is largely informal with no colour-coded meter zones; in central Vientiane you park in marked lots or roadside spaces, often paying a small cash fee to an attendant, and blocking traffic or temple gates risks fines or clamping.
Police can stop drivers to inspect documents and issue on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, no helmet/seatbelt or licence issues; amounts are modest but informal, and rental firms commonly hold a deposit to cover any penalties or damage.
Dial 191 for police (1623 for traffic police, 1195 for ambulance); you must stop and report any injury crash to traffic police, and note that foreign drivers involved in accidents can be barred from leaving the country until compensation is settled, so contact your embassy and rental insurer immediately.