Does Hertz require an IDP in Cape Verde?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Cape Verde: 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.
This Atlantic island nation drives on the right; visitors can often use a national licence for short stays, with an IDP advised for non-Latin scripts.
In Cape Verde specifically, cape Verde 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. Island desks recommend an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Cape Verde desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Cape Verde drives on the right, uses the CVE, 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 Cape Verde
- 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 CVE deposit; Cape Verde drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Cape Verde Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Steep, cobbled island roads.
- 0.05% 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 Cape Verde
Cape Verde has no toll roads or vignette system; all inter-town and island roads are free to use. Inter-island travel is by ferry or plane rather than road, so no road charges apply.
Outside busy areas parking is generally free; in Praia, Mindelo, Santa Maria and on Sal/Boa Vista there are regulated paid public and private zones and parking is tight, so plan ahead. Informal attendants may expect a small tip to watch your car.
Urban speed limit is 50 km/h and 80 km/h on open roads; police issue on-the-spot fines for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use, payable in escudos. Rental firms recover any unpaid fines from the card on file.
Call police on 132 (national emergency 112; ambulance 130); a police report is needed for insurance. Do not move the vehicles before police attend if there are injuries, and exchange details with the other driver.
Full driving guide for Cape Verde →