Does Hertz require an IDP in Ethiopia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Ethiopia: 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.
Ethiopia drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, though Addis Ababa traffic and rural roads lead many to hire drivers.
In Ethiopia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Ethiopia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive desks ask for an IDP; chauffeured hire is common.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Ethiopia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Ethiopia drives on the right, uses the ETB, 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 Ethiopia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the ETB deposit; Ethiopia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Ethiopia Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for pedestrians and livestock.
- Zero alcohol tolerance.
- 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 Ethiopia
The Addis Ababa-Adama expressway is Ethiopia's main toll road, paid in cash or by prepaid card at toll plazas; most other roads are toll-free.
Addis Ababa runs digital, app/meter-based paid parking zones with marshals; parking in no-parking zones, blocking entrances or using disabled bays draws fines.
Speeding 6-10 km/h over brings a 1,500 birr fine plus demerit points and 11-20 km/h over a 1,700 birr fine; running lights, phone use and lane violations carry 1,500 birr fines, and rental firms recover camera fines from renters.
Stop immediately, never leave the scene, and call police; a police report is mandatory, and because Ethiopia has one of the world's highest road-death rates, crowds can gather quickly, so prioritise safety.
Full driving guide for Ethiopia →