Does Enterprise require an IDP in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Enterprise in Saint Kitts and Nevis: 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.
Saint Kitts and Nevis drive on the left and require a local temporary driving permit, arranged through the rental company.
In Saint Kitts and Nevis specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Saint Kitts and Nevis ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Enterprise will typically ask for it at the counter. A local temporary permit is issued at the desk; carry your licence.
Enterprise runs a global network; at its Saint Kitts and Nevis desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Saint Kitts and Nevis drives on the left, uses the XCD, 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis
- 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 XCD deposit; Saint Kitts and Nevis drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Saint Kitts and Nevis Enterprise renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Buy a local driving permit.
- Narrow island roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
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 Saint Kitts and Nevis
There are no toll roads or electronic toll system anywhere in St Kitts or Nevis; all roads, including the coastal ring road, are free to use.
On-street parking in Basseterre is generally free but space is tight in the old town centre; use hotel or guarded lots where possible and never block the narrow one-way streets, as illegally parked cars can be ticketed.
Tougher 2025 penalties target reckless and dangerous-speed driving with substantially increased fines; routine speeding, seatbelt and phone offences draw on-the-spot fixed penalties, and rental firms recover any camera or unpaid tickets from your card.
Call police on 911; you must report any accident causing injury or damage over EC$1,000 to the police within 24 hours, and you should not move the vehicles until police arrive when there are injuries.
Full driving guide for Saint Kitts and Nevis →