Does Hertz require an IDP in Timor-Leste?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Timor-Leste: 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.
Timor-Leste drives on the left; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, and rural roads are rough and often unsealed.
In Timor-Leste specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Timor-Leste ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Dili desks request an IDP; 4x4 advised outside the capital.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Timor-Leste desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Timor-Leste drives on the left, uses the USD, 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 Timor-Leste
- 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 USD deposit; Timor-Leste drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Timor-Leste Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Rough, mountainous roads outside Dili.
- 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 Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste has no toll roads, no vignette and no electronic toll system - all public roads, including the Dili-area highway corridor, are free to use.
Parking in Dili is informal, with attendants at markets and shopping areas collecting a small cash fee; there are no colour-coded paid zones or apps. Read posted signs and avoid blocking narrow streets, as vehicles can be towed in commercial areas.
Police issue fines for speeding, hand-held phone use and not wearing seatbelts, often settled on the spot in cash; amounts are modest but ask for documentation. Rental firms pass any unpaid fines or damage to your deposit.
Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire; report any injury or serious crash to the police (PNTL) and leave the vehicles in place until officers attend. Keep a copy of the report for insurance or rental claims.
Full driving guide for Timor-Leste →