Does Hertz require an IDP in Venezuela?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Venezuela: 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.
Venezuela drives on the right; an IDP is advised with your home licence, though fuel shortages and conditions lead many to use local drivers.
In Venezuela specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Venezuela 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 available.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Venezuela desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Venezuela drives on the right, uses the VES, 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 Venezuela
- 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 VES deposit; Venezuela drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Venezuela Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Fuel can be scarce — plan refuelling.
- 0.08% 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 Venezuela
Venezuela has roughly 20 short multi-lane autopistas, mostly in the north and west; tolls where they operate are paid in cash bolívares at booths, though collection has been erratic during the economic crisis.
In Caracas use guarded/attended lots (estacionamientos) rather than street parking; vehicle and contents theft is a real risk, so never leave a car unattended on the street, especially after dark.
Police issue a ticket detailing the offence, fine and where to pay; speeding, reckless and drunk driving are the main enforced violations, but bribe-seeking stops occur, so insist on a written ticket. Rental firms charge any unpaid fines back to you.
Stop, call police, and do not move the vehicles unless they endanger traffic; emergency numbers are 911 (VEN911) and 171. Obtain the police report for your insurer/rental firm, and in Caracas be wary of staged stops.
Full driving guide for Venezuela →