Does Hertz require an IDP in Guyana?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Guyana: 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.
Guyana drives on the left, unlike its neighbours; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and interior roads are largely unpaved.
In Guyana specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Guyana ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Georgetown desks request an IDP for non-English licences; 4x4 for the interior.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Guyana desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Guyana drives on the left, uses the GYD, 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 Guyana
- 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 GYD deposit; Guyana drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Guyana Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Unpaved roads outside the coast.
- 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 Guyana
Tolls apply at the major river crossings rather than highways: the Demerara Harbour Bridge charges about GYD 200 for a car, while the Berbice River Bridge is the priciest (historically ~GYD 1,900); pay in Guyanese dollars.
Central Georgetown has metered and attended on-street parking; congestion and informal minibus traffic make illegal parking risky, so use paid lots near the city centre and seafront.
Police issue on-the-spot tickets for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use; fines are paid in local currency and rental companies pass any tickets to the driver's card.
Dial 911 for police and 913 for ambulance; do not move vehicles after a serious crash until police attend, and obtain a police report, which is mandatory for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Guyana →