Does Enterprise require an IDP in Ethiopia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Enterprise in Ethiopia: 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.
Ethiopia drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, though Addis Ababa traffic and rural roads lead many to hire drivers.
In Ethiopia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Ethiopia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Enterprise will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive desks ask for an IDP; chauffeured hire is common.
Enterprise runs a global network; at its Ethiopia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Ethiopia drives on the right, uses the ETB, 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 Ethiopia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the ETB deposit; Ethiopia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Ethiopia Enterprise renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for pedestrians and livestock.
- Zero alcohol tolerance.
- 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 Ethiopia
The Addis Ababa-Adama expressway is Ethiopia's main toll road, paid in cash or by prepaid card at toll plazas; most other roads are toll-free.
Addis Ababa runs digital, app/meter-based paid parking zones with marshals; parking in no-parking zones, blocking entrances or using disabled bays draws fines.
Speeding 6-10 km/h over brings a 1,500 birr fine plus demerit points and 11-20 km/h over a 1,700 birr fine; running lights, phone use and lane violations carry 1,500 birr fines, and rental firms recover camera fines from renters.
Stop immediately, never leave the scene, and call police; a police report is mandatory, and because Ethiopia has one of the world's highest road-death rates, crowds can gather quickly, so prioritise safety.
Full driving guide for Ethiopia →