Does Sixt require an IDP in Thailand?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Thailand: 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.
Local authorities in Thailand commonly ask foreign drivers to carry an IDP; the printed booklet is typically requested at checkpoints.
In Thailand specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Thailand ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Police checkpoints and rental desks expect the printed IDP, not just digital.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Thailand desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Thailand drives on the left, uses the THB, 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 Thailand
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the THB deposit; Thailand drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Thailand Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Helmets mandatory for motorcycles — strictly checked.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- International licence + passport carried at all times.
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 Thailand
Bangkok and inter-city expressways (EXAT/DOH) charge fixed-amount tolls payable in cash at booths or electronically via the M-Pass or Easy-Pass transponder/sticker; most short urban expressway segments cost roughly 25-90 THB. Unpaid e-tolls now carry escalating penalties, so use cash lanes if your rental has no tag.
Park only in marked bays; illegal or red-and-white-curb parking draws 200-500 THB fines and towing, common in central Bangkok. Malls and BTS-area lots offer paid garages (often 20-40 THB/hr), and apps/attended lots are the safe option in dense districts.
Speeding typically 1,000-2,000 THB, no-seatbelt and mobile-phone use up to 1,000 THB, and drink-driving over 0.05% BAC is heavily fined or jailed; minor fines are frequently issued on-the-spot in cash at checkpoints. Rental firms pass camera/toll tickets to your card plus an admin fee.
Call 1669 for medical emergency and 191 for police (insurance/tourist accident hotline 1554); for any injury or insurance claim a police report is required. Do not move the vehicles until police or the insurer's assessor arrives unless they are blocking a fast lane and you mark positions.
Full driving guide for Thailand →