If you plan to rent a car in Romania and have a driver’s license issued in a country outside the European Union, you may also need an International Driving Permit (IDP). This document is not a license in itself, but a legal translation of your national license and is mandatory in certain situations, especially if your license is not written in English or does not follow the standard international format.
In the car rental industry, every detail matters: from the clarity of the documents to their legal validity. Each company has its own conditions, but these are based directly on the legislation in force. Therefore, it is important to know in advance whether you can rent a car with just your country’s license or whether you also need to present an IDP. In this article, we briefly explain what an international license is, when it is mandatory, and what citizens of Canada, the US, and other non-EU countries must do to drive legally in Romania.
What is an international driving permit?
An international driving permit is a complementary document issued by the authorities in your country of origin, which translates the information on your national license into several languages. It does not replace the basic license, but accompanies it. Its purpose is to allow foreign authorities to quickly and clearly verify the validity of your right to drive a certain type of vehicle, regardless of the national system in which the original document was issued.
In Romania, an international license is mandatory, especially if your national license:
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is not issued by a European Union member state;
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is not written in the Latin alphabet;
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does not contain clear information on the categories of motor vehicles, photo, and validity date;
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is not accompanied by an authorized translation (for some countries).
US and Canadian citizens
For tourists from the United States or Canada, an international driving permit is essential when renting a car in Romania. Although US or Canadian licenses are recognized by many car rental companies, the law requires that they be accompanied by an IDP, especially for temporary stays.
In the event of a routine check or a traffic incident, the lack of an international permit can lead to penalties, even if in practice the national permit seems sufficient. Therefore, for any car rental reservation, it is important for US and Canadian citizens to prepare both documents – the national permit and the IDP.
Other non-EU countries
For citizens outside the European Union – including countries such as Brazil, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, India, or China – the rules apply depending on the status of the country in question in international conventions on road traffic (the 1968 Vienna Convention or the 1949 Geneva Convention).
If your license is written in another alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, etc.) or does not comply with the standard format, you must present an international driving permit in order to legally rent a car. Some car rental companies may refuse documents issued in another system or in languages that cannot be verified on the spot. Therefore, it is essential that you inform yourself and obtain the correct documents before traveling.
How to obtain an international license in your country
An international driver’s license must be obtained before leaving your country of origin. It is not issued in Romania, nor can it be issued by embassies. The procedure is usually simple and quick.
In the United States, the IDP is obtained through the AAA (American Automobile Association) or AATA (American Automobile Touring Alliance). In Canada, the document is issued by the CAA (Canadian Automobile Association). In other countries, local road authorities or international automobile clubs are responsible for issuing IDPs.
It is important to know that there are two main types of international permits, depending on the applicable convention (Vienna or Geneva), and the validity period is generally 1 to 3 years. You must apply for the appropriate document for the country or regions you are visiting. In Romania, the IDP is recognized under the Vienna Convention.
Renting a car with Jacob Auto Rent
For international customers arriving in Romania who wish to rent a car, Jacob Auto Rent offers a clear booking platform, real-time availability, and delivery to major cities across the country.
For non-EU citizens, it is important to ensure that you have all the necessary documents to verify your identity and right to drive. The booking process can be completely digital, but the documents will be checked upon delivery of the car.
More informations here: internationaldrivingauthority.com