Does Hertz require an IDP in Bhutan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Bhutan: 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.
Bhutan drives on the left through Himalayan terrain; an IDP is recommended, and most visitors travel with a licensed guide and driver.
In Bhutan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Bhutan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Independent rental is restricted; tourism rules favour guided transport.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Bhutan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Bhutan drives on the left, uses the BTN, 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 Hertz counter in Bhutan
- 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 BTN deposit; Bhutan drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Bhutan Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left on narrow mountain roads.
- Strict speed limits on switchbacks.
- 0.0% alcohol tolerance.
- Carry passport, IDP and permits.
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 Bhutan
Bhutan has no expressway toll or vignette system; road use is free, though tourists pay the government Sustainable Development Fee separately as part of entry, not at any road booth.
In Thimphu use the marked municipal parking bays near landmarks such as Clock Tower Square, Tashichho Dzong and Buddha Dordenma, where attendants collect a small hourly fee; unauthorised parking is fined by the Thimphu Thromde.
Police strictly enforce seatbelt, speed and drink-driving laws with on-the-spot fines; urban limit is 50 km/h, rural 80 km/h. Drink-driving and reckless driving on cliff roads draw heavier penalties and possible licence action.
Dial 113 for police and 112 for ambulance; do not move the vehicles after a serious crash and wait for police, as a police report is required and fault can carry compensation liability.
Full driving guide for Bhutan →