Does Hertz require an IDP in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Saint Kitts and Nevis: 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.
Saint Kitts and Nevis drive on the left and require a local temporary driving permit, arranged through the rental company.
In Saint Kitts and Nevis specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Saint Kitts and Nevis ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. A local temporary permit is issued at the desk; carry your licence.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Saint Kitts and Nevis desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Saint Kitts and Nevis drives on the left, uses the XCD, 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis
- 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 XCD deposit; Saint Kitts and Nevis drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Saint Kitts and Nevis Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Buy a local driving permit.
- Narrow island roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
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 Saint Kitts and Nevis
There are no toll roads or electronic toll system anywhere in St Kitts or Nevis; all roads, including the coastal ring road, are free to use.
On-street parking in Basseterre is generally free but space is tight in the old town centre; use hotel or guarded lots where possible and never block the narrow one-way streets, as illegally parked cars can be ticketed.
Tougher 2025 penalties target reckless and dangerous-speed driving with substantially increased fines; routine speeding, seatbelt and phone offences draw on-the-spot fixed penalties, and rental firms recover any camera or unpaid tickets from your card.
Call police on 911; you must report any accident causing injury or damage over EC$1,000 to the police within 24 hours, and you should not move the vehicles until police arrive when there are injuries.
Full driving guide for Saint Kitts and Nevis →