Will my driver’s license be accepted?

To rent a car, you must present a full, physical driver’s license that you have held for at least one year.
Learner’s permits, provisional licenses, and digital copies are not accepted.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1Bring the Physical Card
Rental desks require the original plastic license card. 
Digital licenses shown on a phone, apps, or paper photocopies are not accepted by international suppliers.

2Check Your Experience (Tenure)
When suppliers ask for a "valid" license, they mean it must be active and held for the minimum required period—typically at least 1 year (sometimes 2 years for premium vehicles). 
If you recently renewed your license and the issue date shows less than one year, bring your previous physical license or an official driving history record to confirm your driving experience.

3Verify the License Type
The main driver must hold a Full driver’s license. 
Licenses marked as Provisional, Probationary, or Learner are not accepted for car rentals.

4See if you need an IDP
If your license is printed in a non-Roman alphabet (such as Arabic, Chinese, or Cyrillic), an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory. It is highly recommended when travelling to a country that uses a different alphabet, as it helps rental agents quickly verify your license details.

What Customers Often Expect vs What Actually Happens:

Expectation: "My country uses digital licenses now, so a photo of it on my phone should be enough."

Reality: Most rental suppliers worldwide still rely on physical driver’s licenses at the rental desk, as many systems have not yet integrated digital license verification. For this reason, travellers are expected to bring their original physical license, since rental agents must verify the document for legal and insurance purposes before releasing the vehicle.

Expectation: "My new license is totally valid, even though I got it last month."

Reality: A "valid" license for a car rental means you must pass both the expiration check and the experience check. If you haven't held a full license for at least a year, you will be denied.

💡 Did You Know?

If you are a UK driver, you may need to generate a "DVLA Check Code" to share your driving record with the supplier. 
Be sure to review your voucher instructions to confirm whether this step is required for your booking.

What To Do Next:

Open your voucher or the car offer page and click "Rental Conditions" → "Driver Requirements." 
This section lists the exact number of years you need to have held your license and whether an IDP is required for your trip.