Does Hertz require an IDP in Mozambique?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Mozambique: 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.
Mozambique drives on the left and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in Portuguese.
In Mozambique specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Mozambique ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Maputo desks request an IDP for non-Portuguese licences; carry reflective vests.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Mozambique desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Mozambique drives on the left, uses the MZN, 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 Mozambique
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the MZN deposit; Mozambique drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Mozambique Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Two reflective triangles and a vest required.
- 0.06% alcohol limit.
- Police checkpoints are routine.
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 Mozambique
The main motorway corridors are tolled - notably the N4/EN4 from Maputo to the South African border at Ressano Garcia (the TRAC route), payable in cash (metical or rand) or by e-tag at booths. Tolls are modest and these roads are far safer than gravel alternatives.
Parking is mostly unregulated outside the cities; in central Maputo it is restricted and police-monitored, and informal guardas will watch your car for a tip. Avoid leaving valuables visible.
Traffic police commonly seek on-the-spot cash fines from foreign drivers (often for alleged speeding, missing safety equipment or document issues); request an official receipt. Rental firms pass on any documented fines, and speed traps are common on the N1/EN1.
All accidents involving foreign nationals must be reported to the police even with no injury, and you should obtain the police report for your insurer or rental company. Do not move vehicles before police attend and notify your embassy if serious.
Full driving guide for Mozambique →