Does Alamo require an IDP in South Africa?
Alamo in South Africa: the policy in plain terms
Requires an IDP for licences in a non-Latin alphabet and recommends one for all international renters. Leisure-focused brand popular for airport pickups.
An IDP is required if your licence is not in English; most rental desks ask for one.
In South Africa specifically, south Africa legally requires foreign drivers to carry an International Driving Permit with their national licence, so Alamo will ask for it at the counter. Required for non-English licences at Hertz, Europcar and local chains.
Alamo runs a global network; at its South Africa desks, foreign renters are asked for the 1968 Vienna-format International Driving Permit alongside the original licence. South Africa drives on the left, uses the ZAR, 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 South Africa
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the ZAR deposit; South Africa drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in South Africa Alamo renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Toll roads (e-tolls) on major routes.
- Four-way stops are common.
- 0.05% alcohol limit, strictly enforced.