Does Hertz require an IDP in Burundi?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Burundi: 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.
Burundi drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence for its hilly roads and busy capital.
In Burundi specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Burundi ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Bujumbura desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Burundi desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Burundi drives on the right, uses the BIF, 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 Burundi
- 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 BIF deposit; Burundi drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Burundi Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Hilly, winding rural roads.
- 0.08% 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 Burundi
Burundi has no toll-road network or electronic tags; there are no formal tolls for tourists, though police and military checkpoints where documents are inspected are common on intercity routes.
Bujumbura has no organised paid-zone or metered system; parking is informal kerbside or in guarded lots where an attendant expects a small Burundian-franc tip. Use hotel or compound parking, as roadways are unmarked and street security is a concern.
Enforcement is via roadside police checks where licence, IDP, registration and insurance are demanded and fines settled in cash francs; the legal blood-alcohol limit is low (around 0.1%/0.08%). Keep all documents on hand to avoid prolonged stops.
Drive on the right; after a crash stop, do not move the vehicles, and report to the police (emergency lines around 117/112) and obtain a report for insurance, which is compulsory third-party. Stay alert at the scene, as crowds can form and tensions rise quickly.
Full driving guide for Burundi →