Does Hertz require an IDP in Malawi?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Malawi: 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.
Malawi drives on the left; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and rural roads call for daytime travel.
In Malawi specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Malawi ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Lilongwe desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Malawi desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Malawi drives on the left, uses the MWK, 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 Malawi
- 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 MWK deposit; Malawi drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Malawi Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Avoid night driving on rural roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Watch for pedestrians and cyclists.
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 Malawi
Malawi has no toll roads or vignette; the M1 and other main routes are free to drive. Many secondary and rural roads are unpaved and a 4x4 is advised.
In Lilongwe and Blantyre parking is mostly in marked lots and street bays with informal 'car guards' expecting a small kwacha tip; there is no formal colour-coded paid-zone system. Use guarded hotel parking overnight.
Speed traps are common at the end of village speed-limit zones, with on-the-spot fines; always insist on an official receipt. Government revised the prescribed-offence penalty schedule (covering speeding, no seatbelt, phone use), and rental companies pass any documented fines back to the renter.
Drive on the left. After a crash, report it to the police, who issue the report required for insurance/rental claims; do not move vehicles where there are injuries. Drive defensively and avoid travel outside towns after dark due to a high accident rate.
Full driving guide for Malawi →