Does Hertz require an IDP in Tajikistan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Tajikistan: 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.
Tajikistan drives on the right and uses Cyrillic; an IDP is advised with your licence, and the Pamir Highway demands a robust 4x4.
In Tajikistan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Tajikistan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Dushanbe desks ask for an IDP with non-Cyrillic licences; 4x4 for the Pamirs.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Tajikistan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Tajikistan drives on the right, uses the TJS, 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 Tajikistan
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the TJS deposit; Tajikistan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Tajikistan Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
- Remote high-altitude roads.
- Carry passport, IDP and permits for the GBAO region.
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 Tajikistan
Tajikistan operates a small number of toll roads, notably the Chinese-built Dushanbe-Chanak (Istaravshan) highway and the Shahriston tunnel route, where cash tolls are collected at booths in somoni; there is no national vignette or electronic system. Foreigners simply pay the attendant in local cash.
Parking in Dushanbe is largely informal: central streets and bazaars use uniformed or unofficial attendants who collect a few somoni on the spot, and there are no colour-coded paid zones or apps. Avoid blocking junctions or government-building frontages, where vehicles can be moved or wheel-clamped.
Traffic police routinely stop foreign drivers and levy on-the-spot fines for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use; insist on an official receipt as informal cash demands occur. Rental/tour operators typically bill any unpaid fines back to your deposit.
Call 112 (unified emergency) or 102 for police; reporting an injury crash to the traffic police (GAI) is mandatory and you should not move the vehicles until officers arrive and document the scene. Obtain the police report for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Tajikistan →