How long must I hold my driving license? What if it was recently renewed or issued?

Car rental suppliers require you to provide a full, valid driver's license held for at least one year before your rental starts. Some suppliers may require two years or more. The exact requirements depend on the country, car rental supplier, and vehicle category.

To confirm the rental requirements for your rental:

1. Open the car offer on our website or check your booking voucher.
2. Click Rental Conditions.
3. Find the Driver Requirements section to check the minimum license tenure and any additional restrictions.

Your driving experience is a separate requirement from the minimum age. 

Recently obtained your first driver's license?

If you have recently passed your driving test and received your first full driver's license, you must meet the supplier’s minimum driving experience requirement before renting a car.

Remember that meeting the minimum age requirement does not make you eligible to rent. You must meet both the age and driver's license tenure requirements.

Example: If the car rental supplier requires a driver's license to be held for at least one year, but you received it six months ago, you will not meet the requirement yet. Paying a Young Driver Fee does not waive the required driving experience.

Recently renewed or replaced a driver's license?

You can still rent a car if you recently renewed or replaced your driver's license, if you meet the supplier’s minimum driving experience requirement.

But pay attention to the Date of Issue on your new driver's license, which shows the renewal date rather than the date you first obtained your license. If the date appears recent, the rental representative may need additional proof of your driving history.

To prepare for pick-up:

• Check the back of your driver's license: The date that you first obtained your license may be shown on the back of the card (for example, if you have an EU or UK license).
• Bring proof of your driving history: If it is not shown, bring your previous license or an official driving record from the agency that issued your license.
• Check which documents are accepted: Contact the car rental supplier before your rental if you are not sure whether your documents will be accepted.
• Bring physical documents: Do not rely only on digital records, screenshots, or photocopies, as the rental supplier may not accept them.

Important: If your license was renewed due to following a name change, make sure your booking details and payment card meet the supplier’s requirements.