Does Alamo require an IDP in Uruguay?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Alamo in Uruguay: 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.
Uruguay drives on the right and enforces a strict zero-alcohol rule; an IDP is advised with your national licence to rent and drive.
In Uruguay specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Uruguay ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Alamo will typically ask for it at the counter. Montevideo desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
Alamo runs a global network; at its Uruguay desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Uruguay drives on the right, uses the UYU, 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 Uruguay
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the UYU deposit; Uruguay drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Uruguay Alamo renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Headlights on at all times on highways.
- Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants.
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 Uruguay
Tolls (peajes) on national routes are about 90-130 UYU each and since July 2022 many no longer take cash; foreigners register the vehicle plate online via the Tourist Pass at telepeaje.com.uy/paseturista or the Telepeajeuy app so booths read the plate automatically.
Montevideo uses paid "Zona Azul" blue zones on weekdays, paid via parking app or kiosk for set time slots; parking is free on Sundays, but unpaid or over-stay parking in the zone risks fines.
Enforcement is strict with a 0.0% blood-alcohol limit; speeding fines start around USD 25 but alcohol and phone offences are far costlier, and rental companies forward camera and toll fines to your card. Many fines are ticketed rather than cash on the spot.
Dial 911 (or 02-911 from the interior) for police and ambulance; stop, do not leave the scene, and obtain the police report for insurance and the rental firm. Alcohol limit is 0.0%, so never drive after any drinking before or after a crash.
Full driving guide for Uruguay →