Does Thrifty require an IDP in Serbia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Serbia: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation in select countries and for non-Roman-alphabet licences. Budget-friendly brand paired with Dollar in many markets.
Serbia drives on the right with Cyrillic signage common, so an IDP is advised to translate your licence at desks and checkpoints.
In Serbia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Serbia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Belgrade desks ask for an IDP with non-Latin-script licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Serbia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Serbia drives on the right, uses the RSD, 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 Serbia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the RSD deposit; Serbia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Serbia Thrifty renters should know
- Headlights on at all times.
- Reflective vest, triangle and spare bulbs required.
- 0.03% alcohol limit.
- Toll motorways on main corridors.
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 Serbia
There is no vignette in Serbia; motorways use a distance-based ticket system where you take a ticket on entry and pay cash or card on exit, or use the contactless ENP/TAG transponder.
Belgrade and other cities run zoned paid street parking (red, yellow and green zones with time limits) paid by SMS or app; overstaying or non-payment risks fines and wheel-clamping or towing.
Speeding, no seatbelt and handheld phone use draw fines often payable on the spot in cash; daytime running headlights are compulsory outside towns, and rental firms forward camera fines with an admin fee.
Call 192 for police (or 112 general emergency); a police report is mandatory for any injury or significant damage and is needed to take a damaged vehicle out of the country, so do not move vehicles until police attend.
Full driving guide for Serbia →