Does Hertz require an IDP in South Sudan?
Hertz in South Sudan: 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.
South Sudan drives on the right; an IDP is expected with your home licence, and most travel relies on 4x4s and arranged drivers.
In South Sudan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in South Sudan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive is rare; an IDP, passport and 4x4 are expected where available.
Hertz runs a global network; at its South Sudan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. South Sudan drives on the right, uses the SSP, 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 South Sudan
- 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 SSP deposit; South Sudan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in South Sudan Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Unpaved roads outside Juba.
- Checkpoints are frequent.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
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 South Sudan
There is no national electronic toll or vignette system; the road network is overwhelmingly unpaved outside Juba, so visitors pay nothing in formal tolls but should budget cash for informal checkpoint demands.
There are no organised paid parking zones; in Juba parking is informal kerbside, often watched by self-appointed attendants who expect a small cash tip, and vehicles should never be left unattended with valuables visible.
Enforcement is largely manual at checkpoints with on-the-spot cash fines negotiated in person; foreign drivers without proper documents risk vehicle hold-ups, and a 4x4 with comprehensive insurance is strongly advised as cover can be voided without an IDP.
After a crash do not move the vehicles if there are injuries; call police (the general emergency line is 777) and remain at the scene, as a police report is required for any insurance claim and leaving can be treated as a serious offence.
Full driving guide for South Sudan →