The rules vary depending on your nationality and where you rent:
Minimum Age
- Europe (except the UK and Ireland): Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have at least one year of driving experience with a valid license.
- United Kingdom and Ireland: Drivers must be at least 21 years old and have more than one year of driving experience with a valid license.
To prove driving experience, the date the license was obtained must be clearly visible – for example on the back of a German driver's license:
Driver's License
- The license must permit driving passenger vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes: Class 3 or B.
- If you have lost your driver's license or it has expired, we also accept an officially issued temporary driver's license.
- Do you still have an old German paper driver's license? Find more information here.
What should I keep in mind for road trips abroad?
- All renters holding a driver's license from an EU member state or EEA country can drive freely in Germany and throughout the EU / EEA.
- British licenses (post-Brexit) are still recognized in the EU / EEA. The same applies to licenses from Monaco.
- EU / EEA licenses are also recognized without an international driver's license in the following countries: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Bosnia-Herzegovina, GB, Serbia, Switzerland, Albania.
- IMPORTANT: The same conditions apply to every registered additional driver.
When do I need an international driver's license?
✅ National driver's license only (Class 3 / B) required:
- Driver's license from an EU member state or EEA country
- British driver's license – despite Brexit, still accepted in the EU / EEA without an international driver's license → all info for Brits
- US military personnel in Germany (special regulation)
⚠️ International driver's license additionally required:
- Driver's license from a non-EU/EEA country (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, Turkey …)
- Your customer account, "Drivers" section will automatically notify you via a pop-up as soon as you enter such a license.
Minimum Age
USA, Canada: Drivers must be at least 21 years old and have more than one year of driving experience with a valid license.
To prove driving experience, the date the license was obtained must be clearly visible – for example on the back of a German driver's license:
When do I need an international driver's license?
✅ National driver's license only – US / CAN citizens:
- USA: Class C/D license (Mississippi / Colorado: Class R)
- Canada: Class 5/G license (Ontario) – Class 5-GDL (Probationary) is also accepted; the issue date must be at least 1 year ago.
- Special regulation – Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland: Class 5 only permits vehicles up to 4,500 kg – Class 3 is therefore required for the Family Freedom.
⚠️ International driver's license additionally required – all other citizens:
- In North America, the weight limit is 26,000 lbs (approx. 11.8 tonnes) – a non-US/CAN Class B/3 license therefore also entitles you to drive our campervans over 3.5 tonnes.
- You must bring your national + international driver's license.
What is an international driver's license?
- The international driver's license is not a standalone license, but an additional document.
- It is only valid in conjunction with your national driver's license.
- It acts as a kind of translation of your national driver's license.
- A few licenses – such as the one from Turkey – already include an international driver's license on the back of the document. This is of course accepted, and in such cases you do not need a separate international driver's license.
- We have compiled some information for you – but please check with your local authorities or automobile club on how to obtain your international driver's license, as this varies greatly depending on your nationality (no guarantee of completeness or accuracy).
Since the application process can take several weeks depending on your country of origin, please apply for your international driver's license well in advance of your pickup at your automobile club or driver's license authority in your home country.
Exchange of Older Licenses for EU Card-Format Driver's Licenses
Please make sure to check whether your driver's license is affected by this and needs to be exchanged before pickup: Driver's License Exchange in Germany (Paper License & Card Licenses)