Car Rental Requirements: Documents, Age and What You Need at Pickup

Arriving at the rental counter without the right documents is one of the most avoidable problems in travel. Most counter issues come from the same three gaps: wrong type of card for the deposit, missing or expired licence, or a young driver surcharge nobody budgeted for. Here is exactly what is required.

Minimum age

The standard minimum age for car rental is 21 years. Some suppliers lower this to 18 for certain categories, with additional conditions and limited vehicle choice.

The detail that catches younger travellers: if you are under 25, almost every supplier applies a young driver surcharge on top of the daily rate. This ranges from approximately 5 to 25 euros per day depending on the supplier, age and car category. It is not optional and is not shown in the headline price on most comparison platforms. Check the full rate conditions before booking.

Some premium or larger vehicle categories (vans, luxury, 7-seat SUVs) require a minimum age of 25 regardless of the surcharge.

Driving licence

What you need:

• A valid Category B (car) licence
• Usually held for a minimum of 1 to 3 years — check the specific supplier’s requirement
• The physical card: digital licence apps are not accepted at most counters, particularly outside the country of issue

EU/EEA licence: valid throughout the European Union and European Economic Area without any additional document.

Non-EU licence in an EU script (Latin alphabet): accepted by most suppliers in EU countries.

Non-Latin script licence (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese etc.): you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to accompany it. An IDP is issued in your home country and translates the licence into standardised international format. It must be carried alongside the original national licence — the IDP alone is not sufficient.

Bring the physical licence. Expired licences are not accepted even if a renewal is pending.

Payment card and deposit

The deposit is a hold placed on your card at pickup to cover potential damage, missing fuel, fines or extras. This is almost always held on a credit card in the main driver’s name.

• The credit card must be in the same name as the rental booking and the driving licence
• The card must have enough available credit to cover the deposit amount — typically 300–1,500 euros depending on category and insurance
• Prepaid cards and virtual cards are almost universally refused for the deposit
• Debit cards are accepted by some suppliers but usually under specific conditions (additional insurance required, higher deposit, limited categories)

If you only have a debit card, search specifically for suppliers that accept it for the deposit before booking. Do not assume it will be accepted at the counter. For more on this, see car rental without a credit card.

For more on how the deposit works, see car rental deposit explained.

Insurance included

Every rental in the EU includes third-party liability (TPL) insurance as a minimum legal requirement. This covers damage or injury you cause to other people, vehicles or property. It does not cover damage to the rental car itself.

Damage to the rental car is handled through the excess: the maximum amount you would pay in the event of damage. The base rate includes some cover (CDW) but almost always leaves an excess. You can reduce or eliminate this through an excess waiver or a premium rate with full cover included.

Documents to bring

Extra requirements to check in advance

Additional drivers: anyone else who may drive must be registered at pickup. They need their own licence and ID. An unlisted driver is uninsured. There is usually a daily fee for additional drivers.

Cross-border travel: rental contracts typically require advance written authorisation for travel to another country. This is particularly relevant for Morocco, non-EU countries in eastern Europe and trips that cross multiple borders. Request permission before pickup — not on the road.

Child seats and GPS: these are rented separately at a daily charge. Check whether bringing your own child seat is permitted — most suppliers allow it and it is usually more economical for stays longer than a few days.

Accessories and extras: any accessory (roof rack, snow chains, sat-nav) must be booked in advance. Availability at the counter cannot be guaranteed.

Compare rental car rates and conditions

In short

The requirements for renting a car come down to four things: minimum age met, valid driving licence held for the required period, credit card in your name with enough available credit for the deposit, and passport or ID. Add anyone who will drive to the contract at pickup, check cross-border rules before travelling and read the excess conditions before signing. Counter problems are almost always preventable.