Does Hertz require an IDP in Maldives?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Maldives: 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.
The Maldives drives on the left, but with resorts spread across islands there is little driving; an IDP is rarely needed beyond Malé.
In Maldives specifically, maldives 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. Car rental is minimal; transport is mostly by boat and seaplane.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Maldives desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Maldives drives on the left, uses the MVR, 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 Maldives
- 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 MVR deposit; Maldives drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Maldives Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left in Malé.
- Motorbikes dominate the capital.
- 0.0% alcohol tolerance.
- Most islands have no roads to drive.
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 Maldives
There are no toll roads or toll systems; the road network is limited to individual islands. The only substantial roads for visitors are on Hulhumale, the Male-Hulhumale Sinamale Bridge, and a handful of larger resort and inhabited islands.
Parking in Male and Hulhumale is tightly congested and regulated, with designated bays and frequent clamping or fines for illegal parking; most visitors rely on taxis rather than self-drive. Motorbikes dominate and parking space is scarce.
Police enforce speeding (limits are very low, around 30-40 km/h in built-up areas), seatbelt and phone rules with on-the-spot fines payable in rufiyaa. Penalties are modest in cash terms but strictly applied on Male and Hulhumale.
Dial 119 for police and 102 for ambulance. Report any accident to the Maldives Police Service and do not move vehicles in a serious or injury collision until police attend.
Full driving guide for Maldives →