Does Thrifty require an IDP in Sweden?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Sweden: the policy in plain terms
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Sweden drives on the right with daytime headlights mandatory year-round; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and the alcohol limit is among Europe's lowest.
In Sweden specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Sweden ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Stockholm desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Sweden desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Sweden drives on the right, uses the SEK, 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 Sweden
- 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 SEK deposit; Sweden drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Sweden Thrifty renters should know
- Daytime headlights mandatory at all times.
- 0.02% alcohol limit — near zero.
- Winter tyres mandatory Dec–Mar.
- Congestion tax in Stockholm and Gothenburg.
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 Sweden
Stockholm and Gothenburg levy a congestion tax at camera stations on weekdays, plus bridge tolls (Oresund, Sundsvall, Motala); foreign-registered cars are billed via the EPASS24 partner, and rental firms typically pass charges on with a fee.
Urban parking is paid and zone-based, usually via apps (EasyPark, Parkster, Mobill) or meters; watch cleaning-day and residential signs, and illegal parking fines reach about SEK 1,400 (~EUR 125).
Speeding even 1 km/h over is finable, starting around SEK 2,000 and rising by band; holding a phone while driving is prohibited, seatbelts are compulsory, and police issue fixed on-the-spot fines.
Call 112 for injuries; exchange details and complete a European Accident Statement for minor crashes, and report to police if there are injuries, disputed fault, or damage to public property or wildlife (a duty to report animal collisions applies).
Full driving guide for Sweden →