Does Enterprise require an IDP in Samoa?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Enterprise in Samoa: 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.
Samoa switched to driving on the left in 2009; an IDP is advised with your home licence, and a local temporary permit may be required.
In Samoa specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Samoa ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Enterprise will typically ask for it at the counter. Apia desks may issue a local temporary permit; an IDP helps.
Enterprise runs a global network; at its Samoa desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Samoa drives on the left, uses the WST, 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 Samoa
- 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 WST deposit; Samoa drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Samoa Enterprise renters should know
- Drive on the left (since 2009).
- Low speed limits in villages.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Watch for pedestrians and pigs on roads.
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 Samoa
Samoa has no toll roads, vignettes or electronic tolls; all roads on Upolu and Savai'i are free to use.
There are no paid metered zones; parking in Apia is free but limited along Beach Road and at the market, so use off-street lots, and avoid blocking village access roads where local rules and fines apply.
Speed limits are 40 km/h in towns/villages and 56 km/h on the open road; seatbelts are compulsory and handheld phone use is banned, with police issuing fines that rental firms pass on to the renter. Speeding through villages draws particular enforcement.
Dial 911 for police, ambulance or fire (+685 911 from a mobile); for any injury or significant damage stop, do not move vehicles, and report to police, as a report is required and at-fault liability can be taken seriously in villages.
Full driving guide for Samoa →