Does Enterprise require an IDP in Chad?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Enterprise in Chad: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation alongside your home licence in many countries across Europe, Asia and South America. The world's largest car-rental brand by fleet size.
Chad drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, and desert routes require a sturdy 4x4 and supplies.
In Chad specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Chad ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Enterprise will typically ask for it at the counter. N'Djamena desks request an IDP; 4x4 essential outside the capital.
Enterprise runs a global network; at its Chad desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Chad drives on the right, uses the XAF, 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 Enterprise counter in Chad
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the XAF deposit; Chad drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Chad Enterprise renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Sandy, unpaved desert roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Enterprise's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
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).
Once you collect the keys in Chad
Chad has no vignette or formal toll-road system; the limited paved roads, mainly in and around N'Djamena, are free. Most of the country is unpaved, sandy or rocky track requiring a 4x4.
There is no organised paid parking even in N'Djamena; cars are kept in guarded hotel or compound lots and unattended street parking is avoided for security and theft reasons. Engaging a guard to watch the vehicle is customary.
Checkpoints are common, especially outside N'Djamena, where officials often request documents and sometimes informal payments; carry your passport, IDP and vehicle registration and ask for official receipts. Fines for speeding or seatbelt offences are settled on the spot, not by camera.
Call police on 17 (general emergency 112 may route to local services); secure a police report for insurance and do not leave the scene. Contact your embassy, as medical and vehicle-recovery services are very limited.