Does Budget require an IDP in Venezuela?

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.

Venezuela has roughly 20 short multi-lane autopistas, mostly in the north and west; tolls where they operate are paid in cash bolívares at booths, though collection has been erratic during the economic crisis.

In Caracas use guarded/attended lots (estacionamientos) rather than street parking; vehicle and contents theft is a real risk, so never leave a car unattended on the street, especially after dark.

Police issue a ticket detailing the offence, fine and where to pay; speeding, reckless and drunk driving are the main enforced violations, but bribe-seeking stops occur, so insist on a written ticket. Rental firms charge any unpaid fines back to you.

Stop, call police, and do not move the vehicles unless they endanger traffic; emergency numbers are 911 (VEN911) and 171. Obtain the police report for your insurer/rental firm, and in Caracas be wary of staged stops.