Does Sixt require an IDP in Lithuania?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Lithuania: 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.
Lithuania drives on the right and keeps headlights on year-round; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP alongside their licence.
In Lithuania specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Lithuania ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Vilnius desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Lithuania desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Lithuania 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 Lithuania
- 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; Lithuania drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Lithuania Sixt renters should know
- Headlights on day and night.
- Winter tyres mandatory Nov–Mar.
- 0.04% alcohol limit; zero for novice/professional drivers.
- 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 Lithuania
There is no toll or vignette for passenger cars - only trucks and buses need the e-vignette tied to the plate; driving a rental car costs nothing on the road network, though the truck e-vignette rose roughly 5-8% from 1 January 2026.
Vilnius Old Town sits in paid zones payable via meters or apps (e.g. m.Parking); never park on tram lines, within 15m of a bus stop or 5m of a junction, and use guarded car parks as break-ins occur.
Police can issue on-the-spot fines: speeding 20 km/h over starts around EUR 30 rising to EUR 450+ for 50 km/h over, and driving without a required (truck) vignette risks up to EUR 300. Camera fines for rentals are billed to the renter with a handling fee.
Call 112 for injuries; damage-only collisions need not involve police if both parties agree and complete the European Accident Statement, but you must notify the rental supplier and obtain an accident report, and leave vehicles in place where there is injury or dispute.
Full driving guide for Lithuania →