Does Alamo require an IDP in Grenada?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Alamo in Grenada: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation when the licence is in a non-Latin alphabet, and suggests one for all international renters. Leisure-focused brand popular for airport pickups.
Grenada drives on the left and requires visitors to buy a local temporary permit, arranged through the rental company or police.
In Grenada specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Grenada ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Alamo will typically ask for it at the counter. A local temporary permit is required; rental desks help arrange it.
Alamo runs a global network; at its Grenada desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Grenada drives on the left, uses the XCD, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the Alamo counter in Grenada
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the XCD deposit; Grenada drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Grenada Alamo renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Buy a local driving permit.
- Narrow, steep roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
Alamo's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Alamo's standard minimum rental age in the US is 21 (18 in Michigan and New York where state law requires it); renters aged 21-24 pay a "young/youthful driver" surcharge that averages about $25 per day but varies by location (for example roughly $13/day in Michigan and $20/day in New York), and under-25 renters may be restricted to certain car classes.
A major credit card in the primary renter's name is required at most locations; debit/check cards bearing a Visa, Mastercard or Discover logo are accepted at airport locations only with a ticketed return travel itinerary (Discover not accepted in Canada), and the name/address on the card and license must match, with a hold placed at pickup that reduces available funds.
Additional authorized drivers typically cost about $15 per day each (around $5/day in New York), and every additional driver must also meet the minimum-age and license requirements; some promotions or contracted/corporate rates waive the fee. Alamo requires each driver to hold a valid, unexpired driver's license; the license must have been issued before the rental and held for the qualifying period, with locations commonly expecting it to have been held for at least 1 year.
Vehicles rented in the US may typically be driven throughout the US and Canada but cannot be taken into Mexico; vehicles rented in Canada may be driven in Canada and the US. Cross-border and one-way rentals must be disclosed and authorized at the counter, and one-way availability and drop fees vary by location.
Alamo states an International Driving Permit cannot be used on its own and the home-country license must always be presented; an IDP is recommended (not required) when the license uses Roman/English letters, but is required when the license is in a non-Roman alphabet (e.g. Russian, Japanese, Arabic), with a typed professional translation as a substitute if no IDP is available.
Once you collect the keys in Grenada
There are no toll roads or vignettes; all public roads are free to use.
Parking is informal outside St George's, where street space is tight and metered/attended lots near the Carenage and market are common; park clear of bus stops and blind corners or risk a ticket.
Police issue fines for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use; the urban limit is low (around 30-40 km/h) and fines are modest but rental firms recover any unpaid tickets from your deposit.
Dial 911 for police and ambulance; do not move the vehicles, wait for police to attend, and obtain a police report, which is required for any insurance claim.
Full driving guide for Grenada →