Does Sixt require an IDP in United States?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in United States: 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.
Foreign visitors may drive on a valid home licence; an IDP provides a certified translation many rental desks and police prefer.
In United States specifically, united States lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but Sixt still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, Budget and National recommend an IDP for non-English licences.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its United States desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. United States drives on the right, uses the USD, and sets a minimum driving age of 16; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the Sixt counter in United States
- 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 USD deposit; United States drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in United States Sixt renters should know
- Traffic laws vary by state.
- Right turn on red generally permitted after stopping.
- School-bus stop laws strictly enforced.
- Alcohol limit 0.08% (lower for commercial/under-21).
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 United States
Tolling is regional and increasingly cashless/license-plate based; common transponders are E-ZPass (Northeast/Midwest), SunPass (Florida) and FasTrak (California). Rental firms offer toll-pass add-ons (e.g. Enterprise/Hertz) or bill plate-read tolls back with daily admin fees.
Cities use metered/app-based parking (ParkMobile, PayByPhone) with strictly enforced street-cleaning, permit-only and colored-curb rules; a painted red curb means no stopping. Violations bring tickets, booting or towing, and rental firms pass on unpaid citations.
Fines for speeding, handheld phone use and no seatbelt vary by state and city and are issued by police, usually paid later by mail/online (not roadside cash). Speed/red-light camera tickets and unpaid tolls are forwarded to renters with an administrative surcharge.
Call 911 for any injury or serious crash. Move vehicles out of traffic only if safe, exchange insurance and licence details, photograph the scene, and file a police report (required in most states above a damage threshold); notify the rental company promptly.
Full driving guide for United States →