Does Hertz require an IDP in Bolivia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Bolivia: 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.
Bolivia drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised with your licence for its high-altitude and mountain roads.
In Bolivia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Bolivia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. La Paz desks request an IDP; 4x4 advised for altiplano and mountain routes.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Bolivia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Bolivia drives on the right, uses the BOB, 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 Bolivia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the BOB deposit; Bolivia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Bolivia Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- High altitude affects engine and driver performance.
- 0.07% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
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 Bolivia
Most major intercity highways have toll plazas (peajes) operated by ABC and local administrations; charges are modest (a few bolivianos to ~20 Bs) and must be paid in cash, as cards are rarely accepted.
In central La Paz and Santa Cruz, paid on-street parking is managed by municipal zones and parqueo attendants; illegal or double-parked cars in congested centres can be wheel-clamped or towed, so use guarded lots (playas de estacionamiento).
Fines for speeding, no seatbelt or using a phone are issued by transit police, often expected on the spot in cash; rental firms pass on any camera or unpaid fines by charging the card on file plus an admin fee.
Call the Policia Nacional on 110 (or 911 in some cities) and the ambulance on 118; do not move vehicles until the transit police arrive and a report is filed, as the official accident report is required for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Bolivia →