Does Hertz require an IDP in Bahamas?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Bahamas: the policy in plain terms
Asks foreign drivers for a licence translation when the licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet, and often for non-EU renters in much of Europe. One of the largest global rental networks, operating in 150+ countries.
The Bahamas drive on the left despite their proximity to the US; visitors can use a valid foreign licence for short stays, with an IDP advised for non-Latin scripts.
In Bahamas specifically, bahamas lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but Hertz still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. Nassau and Freeport desks accept many foreign licences; an IDP helps.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Bahamas desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Bahamas drives on the left, uses the BSD, 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 Hertz counter in Bahamas
- 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 BSD deposit; Bahamas drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Bahamas Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Many imported left-hand-drive cars — take care overtaking.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
Hertz's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Hertz's standard minimum rental age in the US and Canada is 20, though it drops to 18 in Michigan, New York and Quebec, and 19 in Alabama and Nebraska. Renters aged 20-24 pay a Young Renter fee of about USD 19 per day, and under-25s are blocked from premium, luxury and high-performance car classes.
Hertz places a hold on the renter's card for the estimated rental charges plus a security deposit that varies by location and vehicle class; debit cards are accepted at many US locations but must be Visa, MasterCard or Discover branded, in the main driver's name, and carry sufficient available funds, with extra ID/credit checks sometimes required.
Hertz charges a per-day additional-driver fee that varies by location (commonly around USD 13.50/day in the US, capped per rental); in many markets a spouse/domestic partner can be added free, and the fee is often waived for Gold Plus Rewards members. Hertz requires each driver to hold a valid full driver's licence that has typically been held for at least one year, with longer tenure (often one to two years) required for some markets and premium vehicle classes.
Driving a Hertz vehicle across a country border (e.g. US to Canada or Mexico) requires advance permission and may incur a cross-border fee, and travel into Mexico generally requires separate Mexican insurance; one-way rentals are permitted on many routes but typically carry a drop-off/one-way charge.
Hertz states that a valid driver's licence issued by the renter's home country must always be presented; an International Driving Permit is recommended (and effectively required) when the home-country licence is not in the Roman alphabet or not in English, but Hertz will not rent on an IDP alone.
Once you collect the keys in Bahamas
There are no toll roads in The Bahamas; the only paid crossing tourists encounter is the Paradise Island bridge toll at Nassau (around US$2 per car, payable in cash).
In downtown Nassau use marked lots and metered/paid street bays; spaces fill fast near Bay Street and the cruise port, and vehicles parked on yellow lines or blocking traffic risk ticketing or towing.
Seatbelts are mandatory, child seats are required for young children and handheld phone use is banned (hands-free only); fines are issued by police and rental companies recover any tickets from the renter.
Call police immediately on 919 or 911, photograph the scene, exchange insurance details and report it; a police report is expected for any rental-car damage claim and vehicles should be left in place until officers attend.
Full driving guide for Bahamas →