Does Enterprise require an IDP in Tuvalu?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Enterprise in Tuvalu: 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.
Tuvalu drives on the left on its tiny atolls; an IDP is advised with your home licence, though motorbikes outnumber cars.
In Tuvalu specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Tuvalu ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Enterprise will typically ask for it at the counter. Rental is minimal on Funafuti; an IDP and passport advised.
Enterprise runs a global network; at its Tuvalu desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Tuvalu drives on the left, uses the AUD, 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 Tuvalu
- 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 AUD deposit; Tuvalu drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Tuvalu Enterprise renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Very low speed limits on the airstrip road.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Motorbikes are the main vehicle.
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 Tuvalu
Tuvalu has no toll roads or toll system; the road network is too small to warrant tolling.
There are no paid parking zones, meters or apps anywhere on Funafuti; vehicles are simply left beside the road or at premises. The single main road and the airport runway apron see most activity, so avoid obstructing them.
Speed limits are low (roughly 40 km/h in villages, up to about 60 km/h on the main road) and enforcement is informal but fines apply for speeding, no seatbelt or drink-driving. Most penalties are handled on the spot by local police, and rental operators recover any costs directly from the hirer.
Report any accident immediately to the Tuvalu Police (emergency 911) on Funafuti and do not move vehicles after an injury crash until police arrive. Given the tiny network, expect to settle directly with police and your rental provider.
Full driving guide for Tuvalu →