Does Enterprise require an IDP in Uganda?
Enterprise in Uganda: 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.
Uganda drives on the left; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and boda-boda motorbikes weave through Kampala.
In Uganda specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Uganda ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Enterprise will typically ask for it at the counter. Kampala desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Enterprise runs a global network; at its Uganda desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Uganda drives on the left, uses the UGX, 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 Uganda
- 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 UGX deposit; Uganda drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Uganda Enterprise renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Watch for boda-boda motorbikes.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- 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 Uganda
Uganda has very limited tolling - the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway is the main toll road, paid electronically or by cash/mobile money at the plaza; ordinary national highways are toll-free.
In central Kampala on-street parking is managed by a concessionaire with paid bays and attendants (pay cash or mobile money); use guarded hotel/mall lots, as congestion and vehicle break-ins make unattended street parking risky.
Police roadblocks are frequent; officers check the licence and IDP together. Express Penalty Scheme fines (speeding from automated cameras, no seatbelt, phone use) are official and paid by bank deposit, not cash at the roadside - never hand over cash directly.
Call police on 999 (or 112 from mobile); for injuries or significant damage a police report is required, do not move vehicles, and avoid disputes at the scene. Notify your rental company; crowds can gather quickly, so move to a police station if you feel unsafe.
Full driving guide for Uganda →