Does Enterprise require an IDP in Guatemala?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Enterprise in Guatemala: 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.
Guatemala drives on the right and accepts a valid foreign licence for short stays; an IDP is advised for non-Latin-script holders.
In Guatemala specifically, guatemala lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but Enterprise still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. Guatemala City desks accept many licences; an IDP helps non-Latin scripts.
Enterprise runs a global network; at its Guatemala desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Guatemala drives on the right, uses the GTQ, and sets a minimum driving age of 18; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the Enterprise counter in Guatemala
- 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 GTQ deposit; Guatemala drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Guatemala Enterprise renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Avoid night driving outside cities.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Topes (speed bumps) frequent in towns.
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 Guatemala
There are essentially no toll motorways; the privately run Autopista Palín–Escuintla (CA-9 toward the Pacific) is the notable exception, charged in cash quetzales at the booth.
Guatemala City and Antigua have metered street parking and private lots costing roughly Q10-40 (about USD 1-5); always use guarded/attended lots where possible to avoid theft.
Police fine speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, sometimes on the spot in cash; carry registration and insurance for the frequent highway/military checkpoints, and rental firms pass on any unpaid fines.
Call 110 (PNC police) or 1554/PROATUR tourist assistance; do not move the vehicles and wait for authorities, as in serious or injury crashes all involved drivers can be detained until fault is established.
Full driving guide for Guatemala →