Does Hertz require an IDP in Ghana?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Ghana: 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.
Ghana drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised with your national licence for Accra's busy roads.
In Ghana specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Ghana ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Accra desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Ghana desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Ghana drives on the right, uses the GHS, 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 Ghana
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the GHS deposit; Ghana drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Ghana Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Heavy urban congestion in Accra.
- 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 Ghana
Ghana abolished all road and bridge tolls in the 2022 budget (effective late 2021), so there are currently no toll booths or passes to buy on public roads.
Central Accra parking is largely on-street and informal, with car-park boys and private lots charging a few cedis; congestion, double-parking and obstruction around markets like Makola can lead to clamping or removal, so prefer guarded hotel or mall car parks.
Police checkpoints are frequent and foreign drivers are stopped for document checks; on-the-spot fines (often cash) apply for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, and rental companies pass any camera or unpaid fines on to the renter.
Drive on the right; call the Police on 191 or the national emergency line 112, do not move vehicles after an injury crash, and get a police report, which is mandatory for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Ghana →