The Honest Answer: It's Inconsistent
Whether a rental agent asks for your IDP at pickup is unpredictable — even within the same company, at the same airport, on different days. Some agents ask every time. Others never ask. There is no reliable way to predict which experience you'll get.
What is consistent: the legal requirement exists regardless of whether the agent checks.
Where Rental Companies Consistently Check
- Poland — Enterprise, National, Alamo, Hertz all have documented policies requiring IDPs for non-EU license holders. Travelers are regularly turned away.
- Japan — Virtually all major rental companies require the IDP strictly. Toyota Rent-a-Car, Nippon Rent-a-Car, and others enforce this consistently.
- Italy — Enforcement has increased significantly. Denial of rental for missing IDPs with loss of prepaid bookings is commonly reported.
- Greece — Particularly in tourist areas during peak season, agencies check frequently.
- Thailand — Major airport agencies check. Smaller local shops are more variable.
The Wrong Question
Whether the rental agent checks your IDP has no bearing on whether you are legally driving without one. Their decision to hand you keys without checking does not change the law on the road, does not protect you from police fines, and does not affect your insurance coverage in any way.
The question to ask is not "will they check?" but "what happens if something goes wrong on the road?"
It's Also in the Fine Print
Most major rental companies include IDP requirements in their terms and conditions. When you sign the rental agreement, you're agreeing to those terms — including any documentation requirement. The rental company could void your coverage under the agreement if it later emerged you were driving without a required IDP.
Remove the Variable Entirely
Get your IDP for $29 and never worry about what the desk agent does or doesn't ask.
The fact that it worked previously doesn't mean you were legally covered — it means you weren't checked or stopped.
Some companies add a surcharge for providing a translation service if you don't have an IDP. This is separate from the legal requirement.