Does Budget require an IDP in Maldives?

Budget's published minimum rental age is 21 in most US states (18 in New York and Michigan), with renters under 25 paying a daily young-driver surcharge; typically around $27/day in most markets, but materially higher at corporate locations such as New York ($35/day for ages 21-24 and $84/day for 18-20) and Michigan ($28/day for 21-24 and $41/day for 18-20). No surcharge applies to drivers 25 and older.

Budget requires a valid credit or debit card; renters under 25 must use a credit card and cannot use a debit card. Deposit type and amount vary by location, with a typical credit-card hold of roughly $80 plus estimated charges plus one extra day's charges, or a minimum near $300, whichever is greater.

Budget allows up to two additional drivers per rental and a per-day additional-driver fee typically applies (varies by location), though it is commonly waived for a spouse or domestic partner; pre-authorized additional drivers must be a spouse/domestic partner, a fellow employee/employer, or a companion driver to a renter with a disability. Budget does not publish a fixed US-wide tenure requirement, but the driver must hold a valid, current full driver's licence, and many corporate-operated locations verify the renter's and additional drivers' records with the DMV before completing the rental.

Driving a Budget rental into Mexico is restricted to authorized corporate-account holders (no one-way rentals into Mexico), and Mexican auto liability insurance is required. Travel into Canada is permitted from many US locations with advance arrangement and Budget's consent, and a Canadian non-resident insurance card may be required; one-way cross-border drop-offs are availability-dependent and carry extra fees that must be authorized in the rental agreement.

Budget generally requires a valid driver's licence, passport, and an International Driving Permit issued in the driver's name from their home country; EU residents renting within the EU may present either their EU licence alone or with an IDP. If the home-country licence is not written in the Roman alphabet, an IDP is mandatory to rent.

There are no toll roads or toll systems; the road network is limited to individual islands. The only substantial roads for visitors are on Hulhumale, the Male-Hulhumale Sinamale Bridge, and a handful of larger resort and inhabited islands.

Parking in Male and Hulhumale is tightly congested and regulated, with designated bays and frequent clamping or fines for illegal parking; most visitors rely on taxis rather than self-drive. Motorbikes dominate and parking space is scarce.

Police enforce speeding (limits are very low, around 30-40 km/h in built-up areas), seatbelt and phone rules with on-the-spot fines payable in rufiyaa. Penalties are modest in cash terms but strictly applied on Male and Hulhumale.

Dial 119 for police and 102 for ambulance. Report any accident to the Maldives Police Service and do not move vehicles in a serious or injury collision until police attend.