Does Hertz require an IDP in Namibia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Namibia: 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.
Namibia drives on the left across vast gravel roads; visitors can use an English licence, with an IDP advised for non-English licences.
In Namibia specifically, namibia 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. An IDP is recommended for non-English licences; gravel-road insurance advised.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Namibia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Namibia drives on the left, uses the NAD, 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 Namibia
- 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 NAD deposit; Namibia drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Namibia Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Gravel roads — reduce speed and watch tyres.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Long distances between fuel stops.
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 Namibia
Namibia has effectively no toll roads - the national network, including the tarred B-roads, is free to use, so no vignette or e-tag is needed.
In Windhoek and towns, kerb markings signal the rules: red-and-white means no parking, yellow-and-white indicates restricted/short-term parking; central bays are often metered or attended by marshals. Heed signs (English) to avoid being clamped or towed.
Speeding (cameras and roadblocks), seatbelt and phone offences carry fixed fines; on gravel the limit is 100 km/h but 60-80 km/h is far safer. Rental firms charge the hirer for any fines plus tyre/underbody gravel damage, which basic insurance often excludes.
By law an accident must be reported at a police station or to a traffic officer within 24 hours; call the police on 10111. Do not move vehicles if there are injuries until police attend, photograph the scene, and notify your rental company.
Full driving guide for Namibia →