Driver requirements

You might need an IDP, depending on the country where you’re renting and the type/language of your driving licence.

Many rental suppliers (and some local laws) require an IDP when:

• your licence is not in Latin characters (for example, written in Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, etc.);
• your licence is not in English and the authorities at your destination don’t treat it as sufficient on its own;
• the local law at your destination explicitly states that foreign drivers must carry an IDP together with their national licence.

Even if your licence is “international” or valid across the EU, it’s still worth double-checking – some suppliers will refuse to release the car without an IDP.

You can usually apply for an IDP at the same authority that issues regular driving licences in your country (for example, the road traffic office or national automobile association). It’s best to arrange it well before your trip, as it may take some days to issue.

For your specific booking, please check the “Driver Requirements” section in the Rental Conditions on VerusCars. There you’ll see clearly whether an IDP is required for your chosen destination and vehicle. The same requirement applies to all additional drivers added to the rental.

In most cases, yes – a newly issued licence is absolutely fine as long as it clearly shows when you were first licensed.

On many licences, the original issue date or “licence since” date is printed somewhere on the card. Rental suppliers use this to check how long you’ve been driving (for example, minimum 1–2 years).

If your new licence doesn’t show the original date, we strongly recommend:

• checking with the rental supplier in advance to make sure they’ll accept it; their phone and/or email are listed on your VerusCars voucher, and
• if possible, bringing your old licence or official confirmation of your driving history (for example, a letter or extract from the licensing authority).

This extra proof helps avoid problems at the desk, especially in countries where a minimum licence holding period is strictly enforced.

I changed my name. Can I use documents that show different names or surnames?

In general, rental suppliers expect all key documents to show the same full name as the main driver – this includes your passport/ID, driving licence and the payment card you present at pick-up.

If you’ve recently changed your name (for example, after marriage) and some documents still show your previous surname, the supplier may agree to accept them, but this is not guaranteed. It usually depends on:

• the country you’re renting in,
• the supplier’s internal rules, and
• whether you can show official proof of the name change (e.g. marriage certificate, court decision, or registry document).

To avoid problems at the counter, we strongly recommend:

1. Contacting the rental supplier in advance to ask if they will accept documents with different names, and which additional paperwork they require.
2. Bringing any supporting documents that clearly link your old and new names.
    

You’ll find the supplier’s contact details (name, phone, email where available) on your VerusCars voucher and in the “My Bookings” section.

No. Car rental suppliers normally do not accept digital-only documents. Screenshots, PDFs on your phone, photos of your licence or passport are not enough – you must bring the original physical documents with you.

As the main driver, you’ll need to present at the rental desk:

• a valid passport or national ID,
• a physical payment card in the main driver’s name (check the Payment section and Rental Conditions to see whether a credit card is mandatory),
• a valid physical driving licence in the main driver’s name,
• and, where required, an International Driving Permit (IDP) or any other supporting documents specified for that country.

Always review the “Driver Requirements” section in the Rental Conditions of your VerusCars offer, as some suppliers or countries may ask for extra paperwork (for example, proof of address, return flight, or name-change documents). Bringing the correct original documents is essential – without them, the supplier can refuse to release the car and the booking may be treated as a no-show.

Unfortunately, the rental supplier cannot release the car if the main driver doesn’t have all required original documents at pick-up. This is a strict rule, and neither VerusCars nor the supplier can override it.

If you realise something is missing before your scheduled pick-up time, do the following as soon as possible:

Contact VerusCars support immediately

If another person who is travelling with you has all the required documents, we may be able to help you change the main driver on the booking, depending on the supplier’s rules and availability. This isn’t always possible, but we’ll check the options with the partner.

If you can get the missing document later

If you’re able to retrieve your licence, passport or card the next day, contact us as soon as you know this. Where the supplier allows it, we’ll try to move your pick-up time or shift the start date.

However:

• Once the grace period has passed and you haven’t shown up with valid documents, the supplier may mark your booking as a no-show,
• In that case, the reservation can be cancelled and charges may be non-refundable, according to the Rental Conditions.

Because of this, we strongly recommend double-checking before you leave home that you have, in the main driver’s name:

• a valid passport/ID,
• the original driving licence (and IDP if required),
• and a physical payment card that meets the supplier’s requirements for the security deposit.
   

You’ll always need a full driver’s license, and in some places, you might also need an International Driving Permit. 

Our rental suppliers won’t accept restricted licenses or learner’s permits. Plus, make sure to have your local driver’s license with you when using an International Driving Permit. They won’t take a printed copy or a mobile scan of the license. 

For more details, take a look at the Driver Requirements in the Rental Conditions. If you’re still unsure, contact the rental supplier directly. Their contact information can be found on your voucher. The same conditions also apply to additional drivers.

You normally add extra drivers at the rental desk, when you pick up the car. Any extra driver fees (unless your offer includes a free additional driver) are paid directly to the supplier on the spot. If your booking includes a free extra driver, just tell the supplier their details at pick-up.

Each additional driver must:

• be physically present at the counter, and
• show a valid driving licence (and passport/ID if required).
   

The same driver requirements (age limits, how long the licence has been held, IDP rules, etc.) apply to both the main and additional drivers. Usually any listed driver can return the car, but only the main driver can collect it at pick-up.

Yes, but it depends on the country and the supplier.

When you search on VerusCars and enter the main driver’s age, we automatically show only the offers you’re allowed to rent. If a senior driver fee applies (for example, for drivers over 70), it will be included in the price or clearly shown in the Rental Conditions.

For exact limits and any extra fees, check the “Driver Requirements” section for your chosen offer. The same rules apply to additional drivers.

It depends on the country and supplier, but in most cases you’ll need to be at least 18–21 years old, and if you’re under 25, a Young Driver fee will often apply. Some vehicle types (like luxury, premium or sports cars) may require a higher minimum age.

The easiest way to check is to enter the main driver’s age when searching on VerusCars – we’ll only show offers you’re allowed to rent, and any Young Driver fee will be included in the price or shown in the Rental Conditions.

Most suppliers also require that your driving licence has been valid for at least 1 year (sometimes longer), and learner’s permits are not accepted. Full details are always listed in the Driver Requirements section for each offer; the same rules apply to additional drivers.

Most rental suppliers require that your full driving licence has been valid for at least 1 year on the pick-up date. Some may ask for 2 or more years of experience, especially for larger, premium or specialist vehicles.

Learner’s permits, provisional or restricted licences are usually not accepted.

There may also be minimum age rules that depend on the country and car type. You can always find the exact requirement for your booking in the “Driver Requirements” section of the Rental Conditions on VerusCars. The same rules apply to all additional drivers.

When collecting your rental car, the main driver must bring the original versions of:

Valid driving licence (and IDP if required for that country)
Credit card in the main driver’s name (usually a credit card for the deposit; some suppliers accept debit cards – check Rental Conditions)
– Passport or national ID card
– VerusCars voucher (printed or on your phone, as long as the supplier accepts electronic copies)

Depending on the supplier and location, you may also be asked for extra documents, such as a boarding pass, proof of address or insurance proof.

Always check the Rental Conditions → Driver Requirements & Payment for your specific VerusCars booking to see exactly what you must bring. If anything is missing, the supplier can refuse to release the car