Does Hertz require an IDP in Nicaragua?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Nicaragua: 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.
Nicaragua drives on the right and accepts a valid foreign licence for short stays; an IDP is advised for non-Latin-script holders.
In Nicaragua specifically, nicaragua 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. Managua desks accept many licences; an IDP helps non-Latin scripts.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Nicaragua desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Nicaragua drives on the right, uses the NIO, and sets a minimum driving age of 21; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the Hertz counter in Nicaragua
- 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 NIO deposit; Nicaragua drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Nicaragua Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Avoid night driving on rural roads.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Watch for carts and livestock.
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 Nicaragua
Nicaragua has no toll roads, bridges or tunnels anywhere; the entire road network including the CA-1 Pan-American Highway is free to use.
Park in well-lit, guarded lots or hotel parking, especially overnight in Managua; informal attendants watch cars for a small cordoba tip. Street theft from parked cars is a real risk, so leave nothing visible.
Cars on foreign plates are stopped more often; for violations police may confiscate your licence until the fine is paid. Typical fines cover speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, and rental firms pass on any tickets to your card.
Do not move the vehicles; wait for police and insurance representatives before anything is moved. Call 118 for police; drivers in a serious-injury or DUI crash can be taken into custody, and a police report is mandatory for claims.
Full driving guide for Nicaragua →