Does Avis require an IDP in Grenada?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Avis in Grenada: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation where the national licence is not in the Roman alphabet or where local rules call for one. Long-established global brand operating in 165+ countries.
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 Avis will typically ask for it at the counter. A local temporary permit is required; rental desks help arrange it.
Avis 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 Avis 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 Avis renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Buy a local driving permit.
- Narrow, steep roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
Avis's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Avis's standard minimum rental age is 25, though it rents to drivers as young as 21 in most US states/provinces (some locations require 25 by local law); renters aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly $25 per day in the US (about $35/day in Canada).
Avis requires an Avis-honored credit or charge card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) and places an authorization hold covering the estimated charges plus a security amount; Visa/Mastercard debit cards are accepted at most US locations but are subject to stricter checks, and the card must be in the renter's name.
Additional drivers must be at least 25 (or meet the underage rules) with a valid licence and typically cost about $13 per day, capped near $65 per rental; in California the fee is waived for a spouse, parent, sibling or child of the renter. Avis requires a valid driver's licence held for the entire rental period that is not suspended, expired, revoked, cancelled or surrendered; it does not publish a fixed minimum holding period in the US, though some international locations require the licence to have been held for 1-2 years.
Avis generally permits US-to-Canada travel if the renting location is notified in advance, but driving into Mexico is restricted (typically corporate accounts only, no one-way, and Mexican insurance purchased through Avis from border states); one-way rentals are offered with a drop-off charge that may apply on certain rates.
Avis states that "International Driver's Permits are valid only if presented with the original local license. An International Driver's Permit is not acceptable by itself." Foreign licences are accepted if the issuing country participated in the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or has a reciprocal agreement with the US; non-Roman-alphabet licences effectively require an IDP, and renters with a foreign licence may need to present a passport.
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 →