Does Thrifty require an IDP in Denmark?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Denmark: the policy in plain terms
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Denmark drives on the right with daytime headlights required year-round; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP with their licence.
In Denmark specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Denmark ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Copenhagen desks ask for an IDP for non-EU licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Denmark desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Denmark drives on the right, uses the DKK, 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 Thrifty counter in Denmark
- 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 DKK deposit; Denmark drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Denmark Thrifty renters should know
- Daytime running lights mandatory.
- Watch for cyclists at junctions.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Warning triangle required.
Thrifty's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Thrifty's published minimum rental age is 20 at most U.S. and Canada locations (18 in Michigan, New York, and Quebec); drivers aged 20-24 (or 18-24 in those exception states/province) are charged an Underage Drivers fee that varies by location, typically around $29/day and higher (roughly $35-$52) in New York and Michigan.
A valid credit/debit card in the renter's own name is required and a hold is placed for estimated charges plus roughly $200 extra for credit cards or $500 for debit (about $350 CAD in Canada); Visa/Mastercard/Discover debit cards are accepted only on Compact through Fullsize classes (not Premium and above) and a physical card must be presented as digital-wallet cards are not accepted.
Additional drivers must meet the minimum age requirement and hold a valid licence, and an additional-driver fee applies per day; it is waived for Blue Chip Rewards members, government renters on official orders, corporate-rate customers, and the companion/driver of a physically impaired customer. Thrifty's general policy requires a valid driver's licence covering the entire rental period but does not publish a fixed minimum tenure; in practice under-25 renters are typically expected to have held a full licence for at least one year.
Driving is generally restricted to the continental United States and Canada, and a Canadian resident is prohibited from driving a U.S.-owned vehicle into Canada; one-way rentals are offered within the U.S. and within Canada subject to location/availability with a one-way drop fee.
Foreign renters must present a driver's licence issued in their country of residence together with a valid passport; if the licence is not in English, Thrifty requires both the foreign licence and a current International Driver's Permit to be presented.
Once you collect the keys in Denmark
Denmark has no motorway tolls or vignette; charges apply only at two bridges - the Storebaelt/Great Belt (Funen-Zealand) at about DKK 260 one-way for a car, and the Oresund bridge to Sweden at about DKK 540. Pay by card or automatic plate recognition at the toll plaza; no booking needed.
Towns use paid zones via apps (EasyPark, ParkMan) and pay-and-display; a parking disc on the dashboard is required in free time-limited bays - available at petrol stations and kiosks. Copenhagen parking is expensive and restricted, with zones signposted and active enforcement.
Speeding fines are steep and percentage-based on the overage, easily exceeding DKK 2,000, with gross speeding risking vehicle confiscation; the alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l. Speed cameras and police are active, and rental companies forward camera fines to the renter with a handling fee.
Call 112 for emergencies/injury; for minor damage exchange details and complete a European Accident Statement. Do not leave the scene, and report to police where there is injury, dispute, or a parked/unidentified other party.
Full driving guide for Denmark →