Do I need an international drivers license to rent a car in Spain?

Many car rental companies do not require an IDP, only your US driver's license along with your passport. However, if you get pulled over by Spanish police, they will ask for an International Driver's License and you will probably incur a fine if you don't have one.



People Also Ask

Yes, you will need both your passport and your driver's license to rent a car in Europe. Additionally, for Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, or Spain, you will also need to provide an International Driver's Permit (IDP).

MORE DETAILS

Generally, most European countries do not require American drivers to have an IDP. However, the following countries do require International Driver's Permits in conjunction with valid United States' driver's licenses: Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain.

MORE DETAILS

Rent a smile The legal driving age in Spain is 18 years old. To be able to rent a car, however, most rental car companies in Spain require you to be at least 21 years old. Some might also ask that you have had your license for at least one year, and some might require you to be 23 or over.

MORE DETAILS

Does car insurance cover international rentals? Most U.S. auto insurers won't cover you while driving abroad, except for driving in Canada and driving in Mexico. Unless you have a credit card offering rental car insurance, you'll probably need to purchase your insurance from the rental company.

MORE DETAILS

An IDP is required in popular destinations such as Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and Laos. Note that China never signed onto the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Travel. Americans cannot rent a car in China without first getting a Chinese driver's license.

MORE DETAILS

Most U.S. auto insurers won't cover you while driving abroad, except for driving in Canada and driving in Mexico. Unless you have a credit card offering rental car insurance, you'll probably need to purchase your insurance from the rental company. Learn more about international car insurance and rental car insurance.

MORE DETAILS

Out of all the popular cities in Europe, Lisbon is the cheapest city to rent a car in at just $3/day.

MORE DETAILS