Does Hertz require an IDP in Suriname?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Suriname: 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.
Suriname drives on the left, a Dutch-colonial legacy; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in Dutch or English.
In Suriname specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Suriname ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Paramaribo desks request an IDP for non-Dutch/English licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Suriname desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Suriname drives on the left, uses the SRD, 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 Suriname
- 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 SRD deposit; Suriname drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Suriname Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Unpaved roads in the interior.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- 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 Suriname
Suriname has no toll-road network; roads are funded publicly and there are no toll booths or vignettes for tourists to deal with.
Paramaribo has informal kerbside and lot parking with low or no fees; central spots fill early and pavements/potholes make spaces tight, so use guarded lots where available rather than risk a blocked or sunken kerb.
Police issue on-the-spot tickets specifying the offence and where to pay; seatbelt and hand-held-phone violations are enforced, and rental firms pass any unpaid tickets to your card. Roads are unlit and poorly policed at night, so drive defensively rather than relying on enforcement.
Stop, do not move the vehicles if anyone is hurt, and call the police; the standard emergency line is 115 for police. Wait for officers and obtain their report for your insurer and the rental company.
Full driving guide for Suriname →