Does Hertz require an IDP in Guatemala?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Guatemala: 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.
Guatemala drives on the right and accepts a valid foreign licence for short stays; an IDP is advised for non-Latin-script holders.
In Guatemala specifically, guatemala 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. Guatemala City desks accept many licences; an IDP helps non-Latin scripts.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Guatemala desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Guatemala drives on the right, uses the GTQ, 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 Guatemala
- 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 GTQ deposit; Guatemala drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Guatemala Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Avoid night driving outside cities.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Topes (speed bumps) frequent in towns.
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 Guatemala
There are essentially no toll motorways; the privately run Autopista Palín–Escuintla (CA-9 toward the Pacific) is the notable exception, charged in cash quetzales at the booth.
Guatemala City and Antigua have metered street parking and private lots costing roughly Q10-40 (about USD 1-5); always use guarded/attended lots where possible to avoid theft.
Police fine speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, sometimes on the spot in cash; carry registration and insurance for the frequent highway/military checkpoints, and rental firms pass on any unpaid fines.
Call 110 (PNC police) or 1554/PROATUR tourist assistance; do not move the vehicles and wait for authorities, as in serious or injury crashes all involved drivers can be detained until fault is established.
Full driving guide for Guatemala →