Does Enterprise require an IDP in Benin?

Enterprise's minimum rental age is 21 in most of the U.S. (18 in Michigan and New York, and 18 for U.S. government employees on official orders); renters aged 21-24 pay a "Young Renter Fee" that typically averages around $25/day but varies by location (e.g., 21-24 is $15.75/day in Michigan and $30.75/day in New York, with 18-20 fees of $36.50 and $64.75/day respectively).

The contract holder must present their own credit card in their name with sufficient available credit; deposits typically run between $200 and $850 depending on location and vehicle class (airport holds are typically about 120% of the rental). Debit cards bearing a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover logo may be accepted at some locations, but at airports only with a ticketed return-travel itinerary, and prepaid cards are not accepted.

Each additional authorized driver is typically charged about $15.00 per day, but a renter's spouse or domestic partner who meets the same age and licence requirements is added at no charge. Enterprise requires each renter and additional driver to hold a valid, unexpired driver's licence; it does not publish a fixed minimum holding period in the U.S., though young-renter (under-25) restrictions and surcharges apply instead.

Taking a U.S.-rented vehicle across the Mexican or Canadian border requires advance approval; renters must contact the renting branch or call center for the correct procedure and any required insurance, and cross-border travel is restricted or prohibited at many locations. One-way rentals are offered but availability and drop-off fees vary by branch.

For renters under 25, Enterprise states it does not accept an International Driver's Permit as identification; a valid photo driver's licence is required. Foreign renters generally need their home-country licence (an IDP is recommended as a translation supplement but is not a stand-alone substitute for the licence).

Benin has no motorway-style toll network; the main paid road infrastructure is the port/border corridor and there are no electronic tags for tourists. Budget instead for frequent informal 'fees' at police and gendarmerie checkpoints rather than formal tolls.

Cotonou has no organised paid-zone system; parking is informal, often on packed-earth lots where attendants ('gardiens') expect a small CFA-franc tip to watch the car. Avoid leaving a vehicle unattended on busy streets where zemidjan motorbike traffic and theft are concerns.

Traffic enforcement is largely on-the-spot by police/gendarmerie at the many roadside checkpoints, where licence, IDP, registration and insurance are checked and fines or 'arrangements' are paid in cash CFA francs. Seatbelt and phone-use rules exist but are loosely enforced; carry documents at all times to avoid delays.

After a crash you must stop, not move the vehicles, and call the police/gendarmerie (commonly 117 for police, 118 for fire/rescue) and obtain a report (constat) for any insurance or rental claim. In serious or injury cases wait for the gendarmerie; do not flee the scene as crowds can gather quickly.