Does Hertz require an IDP in Cyprus?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Cyprus: 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.
Unusually for the EU, Cyprus drives on the left; visitors can use a valid foreign licence, with an IDP advised for non-Latin-script holders.
In Cyprus specifically, cyprus 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. Rental cars carry red 'Z' plates; an IDP helps non-EU drivers.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Cyprus desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Cyprus drives on the left, uses the EUR, 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 Cyprus
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the EUR deposit; Cyprus drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Cyprus Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Seatbelts mandatory; no phone use while driving.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.02% for new drivers.
- Speed limits in km/h.
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 Cyprus
Cyprus has no toll roads or vignette system - all motorways, including the A1 Nicosia-Limassol and routes to Paphos and Larnaca, are free to use.
Town centres use metered/paid parking (often EUR 1-2 per hour, typically free evenings and Sundays) and pay-and-display lots; a double yellow line on the kerb means no parking at any time. Municipal parking fines are issued separately from police fines.
A fixed camera network (with about a 5 km/h tolerance) posts speeding fines to the registered keeper, usually payable within 30 days; phone use and no seatbelt also carry fines plus penalty points. Rental companies forward camera fines to the renter, and drivers can reach 16 points before a court hearing.
Drive on the LEFT here. Call 112 for emergencies and report the accident to the police; for any injury, or where drivers disagree on fault, wait for police - do not move vehicles until they attend, and exchange details and photograph the scene.
Full driving guide for Cyprus →