Does Hertz require an IDP in Jamaica?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Jamaica: 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.
Jamaica drives on the left and lets visitors use a valid foreign licence for short stays; an IDP is advised for non-English licences.
In Jamaica specifically, jamaica 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. Montego Bay and Kingston desks accept English licences; an IDP helps.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Jamaica desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Jamaica drives on the left, uses the JMD, 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 Jamaica
- 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 JMD deposit; Jamaica drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Jamaica Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Narrow, winding roads with aggressive overtaking.
- 0.035% alcohol limit.
- Watch for pedestrians and goats on rural roads.
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 Jamaica
Highway 2000 (the T1/T3 corridors linking Kingston, Mandeville, Ocho Rios and the airport) is the main toll road, paid by cash or a prepaid T-Tag transponder, with section tolls roughly J$300-J$700.
In Kingston and Montego Bay use paid/guarded lots and hotel parking; metered and time-limited street zones exist downtown and illegally parked cars can be ticketed or clamped. Many tourist areas rely on attended lots where a small tip is expected.
Speeding, no seatbelt and phone use draw fixed fines under the Road Traffic Act, and speed-camera/red-light tickets are passed on by rental firms to your card; police road stops are routine and may issue on-the-spot tickets.
Remember you drive on the LEFT. After a crash do not move vehicles if anyone is injured; call police on 119 and get an official report for insurance/rental claims.
Full driving guide for Jamaica →