Does Hertz require an IDP in Gabon?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Gabon: 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.
Gabon drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and rainforest roads can be muddy and slow.
In Gabon specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Gabon ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Libreville desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Gabon desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Gabon drives on the right, uses the XAF, 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 Gabon
- 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 XAF deposit; Gabon drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Gabon Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Wet, slippery roads in the rainy season.
- 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 Gabon
Gabon has no national toll-road or vignette system; major routes such as the N1 are toll-free, so no electronic tag or pass is needed.
Parking in central Libreville is informal and largely on-street, often watched by self-appointed gardiens who expect a small CFA-franc tip; there are no colour-coded paid zones, and illegally parked cars near markets and the Boulevard du Bord de Mer can be moved or blocked.
Police checkpoints are frequent and foreign drivers are commonly stopped for document checks; on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use are typical, and rental companies will pass any unpaid penalty to your card.
Call the police on 1730 or the general emergency line 1300/112 (Libreville police 177); do not move vehicles after an injury accident and wait for police, as a written police report (constat) is needed for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Gabon →