Driving Guide
General ConditionsBefore you drive
Rental requirements
Most Europcar countries require that a valid driving license has been held for at least 1 year. Furthermore, in most countries you must be at least 21 years of age. Driving into neighboring countries or completing your rental in a different town/airport may be permitted for an additional fee depending on the country and Europcar location. Additional driver and young driver minimum age limits also vary by country.
International Driving Permits
Your driving license will be honored in most countries, however there are countries where non-local Driving Licenses (in different languages or particularly in languages using different alphabet structures). Europcar recommends you carry an International Driving Permit. An IDP is written in 10 languages and serves as an officially recognized translation of your local driving license in over 150 participating members of the United Nations. Your IDP should always be accompanied by your valid local driving license.
The UN itself does not issue driving permits, but uses authorized travel associations to administer the service. A passport-size booklet is printed in 10 languages. It explains that the motorist has a driving license from his permanent place of residence. The Permit has been widely used for more than fifty years and is recognized almost everywhere in the world.
For more information and for applications please contact your local country motoring organizations.
Deposit and rental charges
You will need to present a driving license in your name, issued by your country of residence. The driving license must be valid in the country of rental (driving licenses in characters not readable in the country of rental must be accompanied by an International Driving License) and held for a minimum period of time depending on local legislation or conditions. You will also need to present a valid credit card. An identification document, such as a passport, may also be required and at certain locations for luxury models a second credit card and/or utility bill dated within the last 3 months from the same address. The same documents (driving license and ID card or Passport) will be requested to additional drivers.
If you use a Europcar prepaid voucher (with a specified value or the mention Group Days apply), you must also present a credit card for the charges, which have not been prepaid (extras, refueling charge, excess due in case of damage to or loss of the rented vehicle).
Europcar accepts most major credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, EuroCard, MasterCard, Visa) however there can be exceptions in some countries.
Deposits and rentals paid in cash are limited within the Europcar network (where cash deposits are accepted they must be accompanied by additional forms of proof of identity - please check with your Europcar reservations office). Where they are possible, it is only for the first three smallest categories of vehicles. Cash payment of the completed rental charges once the vehicle is returned is acceptable in most locations.
Europcar offers a Credit Card Currency Conversion service for foreign travelers, Visa and MasterCard cardholders renting abroad. For more information, please refer to next section.
Certain premium or luxury vehicle classes and some Europcar rental locations may require additional proof of identity and payment guarantees.
Credit Card Currency Conversion Service
Europcar offers a Credit Card Currency Conversion service for foreign travelers, Visa and MasterCard cardholders renting abroad. This service is available in 9 European countries (
For a transaction where the cardholder's billing currency differs from the rental currency: the Renter has the choice at the start date of rental to elect to pay either in the currency of the country of rental (Rental Currency), or to pay in his own credit card billing currency.
If the payment is done in the Cardholder's Billing Currency the invoiced amount will be converted by Europcar, from the Rental Currency, to the Cardholder's Billing Currency:
- The following statement shall be printed on the rental agreement: « Final charged amount will be converted into your Billing Currency » plus the 3-letter code identifying such Currency (e.g. USD,
- The final charged amount of the rental will be converted at the exchange rate of the day, supplied by Reuters, plus a commission of 2.75%. Any delayed or amended charges will be processed in the same currency as selected by the Renter, and on the day they are received using the exchange rate applicable on that day.
- The Credit Card Currency Conversion service is provided by Monex Financial Services.
If the renter requires the rental currency to be changed, this can be done only at check-in time, when requesting a printed statement of charges, otherwise the check-out choice of payment currency is considered as definitive.
If, for any reason, the conversion cannot be processed by Europcar, or is declined by the cardholder at the time of rental, the transaction will be submitted in the Rental Currency and converted afterwards by the card issuing bank, according to their currency conversion conditions.
Please see Credit Card Currency Conversion service for more information on the benefits of this service.
At the Airport or Europcar rental location
Check you have all items of your luggage, maps you may require, and that you do not feel overly tired in advance of your journey.
Whether at the airport, the Europcar location, or on your travels pay careful attention to your purse/wallet and where you keep your car keys and documents. Please do not leave your baggage unattended or valuables/keys on a desk or table. If you are traveling in a group assign someone to stay with your luggage whilst all/any other drivers of the vehicle familiarize themselves with the vehicle.
Your rental vehicle
Please check that the vehicle conditions written on the vehicle statement are correct and if an apparent defect not listed is noticed when examining the vehicle; please notify Europcar employee.
- What is the most suitable seating position for you, with correctly positioned mirrors.
- Whether the vehicle fuel is petrol/gasoline or diesel.
- The route you will take, particularly if leaving a busy airport/city centre.
If you are driving in a country where vehicles are on the opposite side of the road that which you are used to, or you require some additional information on the vehicle please contact our staff. They will be happy to demonstrate the workings of the vehicle and to help you familiarize yourself with the controls.
Rules of the road
Observe local speed limits
Speeders may have their driver's licenses confiscated immediately, wherever they are stopped. Fines are often high and they must be paid. If you leave the country before paying a fine, notification will be sent. That's why Europcar recommends to carefully observe all posted speed limits. And remember, most countries post speed limits in kilometers, not miles.
Think - Don't drink!
As you'd expect, every European country has laws against driving under the influence of alcohol and their permissible blood alcohol level is often extremely low and in several, any blood alcohol reading above zero is considered a punishable offence.
Buckle up
Legislation in most countries now requires both drivers and passengers to wear correctly fitted safety belts. Furthermore most European countries do not permit children under certain ages to be in the front passenger seat of a moving vehicle.
Park only where it's permitted
In major cities, parking areas designated as "blue zones" for short-term parking, "green zones" for longer periods, and "red zones" where parking is prohibited. Some cities also use parking meters, so be sure to check for - and feed - the meter if there is one.
Common European road signs
