Does Hertz require an IDP in Sudan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in 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.
Sudan drives on the right; an IDP is expected with your home licence, and Saharan routes require careful planning.
In Sudan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in 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 limited; an IDP and passport are expected where rental exists.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Sudan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Sudan drives on the right, uses the SDG, 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 Sudan
- 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 SDG deposit; Sudan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Sudan Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Sandy desert roads and checkpoints.
- Alcohol is prohibited.
- 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 Sudan
Sudan has no nationwide electronic toll network; the main long-distance corridor is the Khartoum-Port Sudan highway, and any charges are paid in cash, though ongoing conflict has halted most road maintenance and upgrade projects.
There are no formal paid parking apps or colour-coded zones; in Khartoum parking is informal and congested, with vehicles competing for kerb space alongside buses and motorcyclists, and attended lots expect a cash tip.
Using a phone while driving is illegal, seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants front and rear, and the blood-alcohol limit is zero; enforcement is manual with on-the-spot cash penalties at checkpoints.
Stop immediately and do not leave the scene; contact the police (emergency 999) and obtain a report, since third-party liability insurance claims require it. Note the US State Department advises against all travel to Sudan due to armed conflict.
Full driving guide for Sudan →