It depends primarily on where your driving license was issued.
If you have a valid driving license issued in an EU or EEA country, you do not need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive a car in Lithuania.
If your driving license was issued outside the EU/EEA, the situation is more complex. It matters whether the document meets the requirements of the appropriate road traffic convention. Additionally, the rental company may have its own document requirements.
It's worth separating two issues: whether you can legally drive a car in Lithuania and what documents you need to have to rent a car.
Is a Polish driving license recognized in Lithuania?
Yes.
If you have a valid driving license issued in Poland or another EU/EEA country, you can use it in Lithuania. You don't need an IDP simply because you're traveling to another EU country.
This also applies if you fly from Poland to Vilnius or Kaunas and want to rent a car.
When is an international driving permit needed?
An IDP, or International Driving Permit, is a supplementary document to your national driving license. It does not replace it.
In the case of a driving license issued outside the EU/EEA, you need to check whether the document is recognized in Lithuania and whether it meets the requirements of the appropriate road traffic convention.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that for some driving licenses issued outside the EU, an international driving permit may also be necessary.
That's why simply saying "I have a driving license issued outside the EU" is not always enough to determine the legal requirements.
An IDP does not replace a driving license
This is important because these documents are often confused.
If you need an IDP, you bring it together with your national driving license. The Lithuanian Register of Drivers also treats an international driving permit as a supplementary document.
Does every driver from outside the EU need an IDP?
This cannot be answered in one sentence.
In the case of a driving license issued outside the EU/EEA, you need to check:
the country where the document was issued,
its format and compliance with the appropriate convention,
the rules in force in Lithuania,
the requirements of the specific rental company.
This applies, among others, to people traveling from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, or Australia. It's not safe to assume that exactly the same rule applies to all of these documents.
Is an IDP needed to rent a car?
This is a separate issue.
Even if a given driving license is recognized in Lithuania, the rental company may set its own document requirements when picking up the car.
Before making a reservation, it's worth checking both the regulations in force in Lithuania and the terms of the specific rental company.
In practice, the following may be required when picking up:
a valid national driving license,
an IDP, if required,
an ID card or passport.
Are the rules the same in Vilnius and Kaunas?
As far as regulations regarding the recognition of driving licenses are concerned, the place where you pick up the car does not change the rules. The same basic regulations apply to drivers in Vilnius, Kaunas, and other cities in Lithuania.
You can fly to the Vilnius airport (VNO) or the Kaunas airport (KUN) — what matters most is what driving license document you have and whether it meets the requirements in force in Lithuania.
Differences may only appear in the conditions of the specific rental company.
What to check before renting a car?
Before your trip, it's worth doing a quick document check:
1. Check the country where your driving license was issued.
A driving license from the EU/EEA is recognized in Lithuania. For a document issued outside the EU/EEA, check additional requirements.
2. Check if you need an IDP.
For some documents issued outside the EU/EEA, it may be required.
3. Check the rental company's rules.
This is a separate matter from the right to drive a car.
4. Bring original documents.
Don't assume that a photo of your driving license on your phone will be enough when picking up the car.
How does it work at YourRent?
At YourRent, we follow a simple rule for car rentals in Lithuania.
If you have a driving license issued in the EU/EEA, we do not require an international driving permit.
If your driving license was issued outside the EU/EEA, we also require an IDP.
When picking up the car, you also need an ID card or passport. The identity document must belong to the person indicated in the rental agreement.
The same rules apply at both of our locations — at the Vilnius VNO airport and at the Kaunas KUN airport.
In summary
If you have a driving license issued in the EU/EEA, you don't need an IDP just because you're traveling to Lithuania.
If you have a document issued outside the EU/EEA, check whether it meets the requirements for recognizing foreign driving licenses and whether you need an international driving permit.
And if you're renting a car, also check the rules of the specific rental company. The right to drive a car and rental terms are two different matters.