Renting a car in the US or Canada from abroad

What do international visitors need to rent a car in the US?

• Your home driving license, valid for the whole rental, with a photo. Enterprise says digital licenses aren't accepted.
• Your passport, in the same name as the license. Hertz and Budget ask for it.
• An International Driving Permit if your license isn't in English. An IDP is never accepted on its own; it's a translation that goes with your license.
• Proof of your return trip: Budget says all renters from outside the US and Canada must show it, or the rate may change.
• A credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. See paying from abroad.

Guides for international renters

• Licenses and the IDPWhich licenses work, and when you need a permit
• Paying from abroadForeign cards, deposits and currency
• Cover for visitorsWhy your home policy may not apply
• Booked from the wrong countryWhen the counter won't honour your rate
• From the UKLicenses, cards and driving on the right
• From CanadaPassport or Enhanced Driver's License
• From IndiaLicense, IDP, cards and deposits
• From AustraliaLicense, cards and long drives

What catches international renters out at the counter?

• A debit card, or a card in someone else's name, for the deposit.
• A booking made on another country's website that the counter prices differently.
• Buying cover you already have, or skipping cover you need, because home policies rarely apply abroad.
• Young driver fees, which can be steep for drivers under 25.
• Toll roads that bill weeks later, after you've flown home.

Questions people ask

Can I rent a car in the USA with a foreign driving license?

Yes. The major companies accept a valid home-country license with your passport. If it isn't in English, bring an International Driving Permit; if it isn't in the Latin alphabet, Enterprise and Budget say you need one.

Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in the USA?

Only in some cases. Enterprise says it's recommended but not required for non-English licenses in Latin letters, and required for licenses in scripts such as Arabic, Russian or Japanese. An IDP is never accepted without your license.

Do I need proof of a return flight to rent a car in the US?

Budget says all renters from outside the US and Canada must show proof of a return trip home, or their rate may change. Other companies may ask for travel documents at some locations.

Can I use a foreign credit card to rent a car in the US?

Usually, yes, if it's a major credit card in the main driver's name. Alamo also accepts JCB and UnionPay at its US and Canada airport locations.

Related help

• Foreign licenses and the International Driving Permit
• Paying for a rental car from abroad
• Rental car cover for overseas visitors
• Booked from the wrong country
• Airport rental counter finder

Written by the OneCall Rental team, which includes people who've worked car-rental reservation calls. Company policies last checked 19 October 2026 on each company's own website. Policies change, so check your own rental agreement too.

OneCall Rental is an independent service and is not affiliated with any rental company or travel site.