Renting a car in Romania is simple if you know in advance what to have with you. Most delays come not from the booking, but from a missing document, unclear licence or confusion about the card.
At driveXplore, the checklist is short and transparent: minimum age is 21, the driving licence must have been valid for at least 1 year, and at pickup you need ID, a licence and an accepted payment method.
What documents do you need if you are a Romanian citizen?
If you are a Romanian citizen and your licence was issued in Romania, preparation is very direct. The important point is that the documents are original and valid on the pickup day.
- Identity card or passport: original, not a copy or phone photo.
- Valid driving licence: it must have been issued at least 1 year ago.
- Credit card or debit card: driveXplore accepts debit cards; we do not require a credit card.
- Booking details: confirmation helps at pickup, especially if you pick up the car at Otopeni Airport.
A Romanian ID card is enough for identification if you are a Romanian citizen. A passport is useful as an alternative, but you do not need to bring both documents if one of them is valid and can confirm your identity.
What documents do foreign visitors need?
For foreign visitors, the basic rule is the same: identity, driving licence and payment. The difference is the type of identity document and, sometimes, the international driving permit.
- Valid passport: the main identity document for travellers from outside Romania.
- National driving licence: it must be valid and issued at least 1 year ago.
- International driving permit, if applicable: especially for licences issued in non-Latin alphabets or from different traffic systems.
- Credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, bank transfer or cash at pickup: choose the suitable payment method.
For licences from the EU, USA or Canada, you normally do not need an international driving permit. If your licence is issued in a non-Latin alphabet or may be hard to check quickly, the international permit makes pickup simpler.
What is the minimum age and how long do you need to have held your licence?
The minimum age to rent a car with driveXplore is 21. In addition, your driving licence must have been valid for at least 1 year.
- You are at least 21 on the pickup day.
- Your licence is active and not expired, suspended or damaged.
- Your licence was issued at least 1 year before the rental date.
- The name on the licence matches the name used in the booking.
You do not need to prove driving experience through other documents. The licence issue date is what matters, and the team checks the document at pickup.
How do you pay and what card can you use?
One of the most common questions is whether you must have a credit card. At driveXplore, the answer is simple: no. We accept credit card, debit card and other payment methods, depending on the booking.
- You can pay with Visa or Mastercard, including by debit card.
- You can use Apple Pay if you prefer fast phone payment.
- You can pay by bank transfer if the method is agreed before pickup.
- You can pay cash at pickup, according to the confirmed booking.
- The deposit is a 50€ flat deposit, returned at dropoff.
We do not block the card for large amounts. The 50€ deposit is clear from the start, and the cars come with Full insurance included and Unlimited mileage.
Otopeni Airport or Bucharest handover: do the documents change?
The required documents are the same wherever you pick up the car. You need the same documents for handover at Otopeni Airport, handover in Bucharest or handover in Ilfov.
- Otopeni Airport handover is available 24/7, suitable for early flights or late arrivals.
- Bucharest handover is agreed in advance so the team reaches the confirmed time and location.
- Ilfov handover is scheduled in advance, with the same documents required for any pickup.
- The handover location does not change the minimum age, the 1-year licence rule or the 50€ deposit.
What you do NOT need: useful clarifications
When you search for car rental documents in Romania, you may find different rules from one company to another. It is worth separating clearly what is necessary from what driveXplore does not require.
- You do not need a credit card, because we also accept debit cards.
- You do not need to bring an insurance document, because Full insurance included is managed by driveXplore.
- You do not need a large deposit blocked on your card; the deposit is 50€.
- You do not need an international driving permit if your licence is easy to verify and fits the accepted rules.
- You do not need printed copies of the documents, but original documents must be shown at pickup.
Quick checklist before you book
Before you choose the car, do a 1-minute check. If you tick the points below, the booking should be simple and without surprises at pickup.
- You are at least 21.
- You have a valid driving licence held for at least 1 year.
- You have a valid ID card, Romanian ID or passport, depending on your situation.
- You have a credit card, debit card or another accepted payment method.
- You know whether you need an international driving permit for the country that issued your licence.
- You have chosen the pickup location: Otopeni Airport, Bucharest or Ilfov.
If you have the documents with you and meet the age and licence conditions, the process is short. Choose the car, confirm the handover and you have what you need for the road.