Documents needed to rent a car in Egypt: what to bring in Sharm El Sheikh
To rent a car in Sharm El Sheikh you need your passport and your valid national driving licence. According to our local partner companies in Sharm (October 2026), they accept national licences from any country, for example Ukrainian, Russian or Saudi. An International Driving Permit is not a condition of renting with them, but official advice recommends carrying one for police checks. This guide separates what the rental company asks from what the authorities advise, as checked on 15 October 2026.
When you send a request
To send a request on Charm Rental you enter only your name, your phone number and, if you like, an email address, plus your dates and an optional message. No documents are uploaded and no online payment is taken at this stage. The rental company checks your documents when you collect the car, so have them in your hand luggage rather than in a suitcase.
Driving licence: national licence and International Driving Permit
Bring your full national driving licence. Our partner companies accept national licences from any country, so for the rental itself a Ukrainian, Russian, Saudi, Polish, Italian or British licence is enough.
The official advice is a separate point. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) says UK drivers need the 1949-type International Driving Permit and their UK licence in the car, and that a UK licence with an IDP is valid for up to six months, after which an Egyptian licence is required. Austrian and German motoring clubs (OeAMTC and ACE) likewise advise a national licence together with an IDP. The reason is practical: police and military checkpoints are common outside the resorts, and an IDP gives the officer a licence translation they know. An IDP is issued in your home country, so arrange it before you fly; the FCDO notes you cannot buy one outside the UK.
One point no official source settles: which IDP format, for example one issued in Russia, a given officer will accept. Carry your national licence and, if you have one, the IDP, and check the current rules before you travel.
Passport and entry stamp
The company checks your passport when you collect the car, and police check identity documents regularly. The FCDO says you may be detained if you cannot show your ID and your visa, or a digital or paper copy, so keep the passport with its entry stamp or visa in the car whenever you drive. For entry, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive and have at least one blank page. If you are unsure whether a Sinai only stamp is enough for your route, read our guide to the Sinai stamp and the full visa.
Driver age and licence experience
There is no single age limit that applies to every company. The minimum is set by each rental company and can depend on the car, and where a company has set specific conditions they are listed on the car's page before you send a request. For orientation only: the German club ACE says an IDP holder must be at least 21 and have held the licence for a year, while the Austrian club OeAMTC says rental drivers must be at least 23 with two years of experience, and that drivers under 25 are sometimes charged a young-driver fee and some renters cap the upper age. Those two sources differ, which is exactly why we tell you to confirm the age rule for your car in your request.
Deposit or passport as security
Companies protect the car in one of two ways. Most ask for a security deposit, set by the company that owns the car and shown on the car's page before you send a request. According to our partners, it is typically 300 to 500 US dollars or euros depending on the car, and about 1,000 for an expensive car. Some companies accept leaving your passport with them for the rental period instead of a cash deposit, in which case there is no deposit; ask about it in your request. Our guide to the car rental deposit explains it in more detail.