Does Hertz require an IDP in North Korea?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in North Korea: 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.
North Korea drives on the right, but independent driving by tourists is not permitted; all travel is on guided, state-arranged transport.
In North Korea specifically, north Korea 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. No tourist car rental exists; transport is state-controlled.
Hertz runs a global network; at its North Korea desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. North Korea drives on the right, uses the KPW, 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 North Korea
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the KPW deposit; North Korea drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in North Korea Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right (not applicable to tourists).
- Independent driving is prohibited.
- All movement is guided.
- Roads outside Pyongyang are sparse.
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 North Korea
Not relevant to visitors, as tourists cannot drive; the country's few highways, such as the Pyongyang-Wonsan and Pyongyang-Kaesong motorways, are used only by official and guided transport. There is no consumer toll-tag system a foreigner would ever use.
Not applicable for tourists, who never control their own vehicle; all movement is in guide-arranged transport that parks at sanctioned sites only. Independent stopping or wandering off the approved itinerary is prohibited.
Because independent driving is banned, the real risk is detention for breaching tour rules rather than ordinary traffic fines; punishments for rule-breaking can be severe and arbitrary. Most Western governments advise against all travel.
There is no tourist-driving accident procedure because visitors do not drive; in any incident you remain with and follow your assigned guides, who handle authorities. Western governments warn that consular help is extremely limited (the Swedish embassy acts as protecting power for some nations).
Full driving guide for North Korea →