Does Avis require an IDP in Zimbabwe?
Avis in Zimbabwe: 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.
Zimbabwe drives on the left and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English.
In Zimbabwe specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Zimbabwe ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Avis will typically ask for it at the counter. Harare desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Avis runs a global network; at its Zimbabwe desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Zimbabwe drives on the left, uses the USD, 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 Zimbabwe
- 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 USD deposit; Zimbabwe drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Zimbabwe Avis renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Frequent police roadblocks.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry reflective triangles and a fire extinguisher.
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 Zimbabwe
Numerous toll gates sit on inter-city highways, charging roughly USD 2-5 per car depending on the road, payable in cash (US dollars or local bond/ZiG notes); keep small USD notes for each gate.
In Harare and Bulawayo town-centre parking is paid via council attendants or parking apps; secure guarded paid parking is strongly recommended, as theft from cars in unattended areas is a concern.
Spot fines run from about USD 5 to USD 100 for offences like no seatbelt, defective equipment, no insurance or speeding, and are collected on the spot in USD - always demand an official receipt. The drink-drive limit is 80mg/100ml; rental firms pass on outstanding fines.
Call police on 995 (or 999); for minor damage with no injuries you need not call police, but for injuries do not move the vehicles, photograph the scene and obtain a police report. A report is important for the rental firm and insurance.
Full driving guide for Zimbabwe →