Does InterRent require an IDP in Botswana?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Botswana: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for non-EU and non-Roman-alphabet licences across its European locations. Europcar's value brand for leisure travellers in Europe.
Botswana drives on the left; visitors can use an English licence, with an IDP advised for non-English licences and self-drive safaris.
In Botswana specifically, botswana lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but InterRent still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. An IDP is recommended for non-English licences; 4x4 essential for the Delta.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Botswana desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Botswana drives on the left, uses the BWP, and sets a minimum driving age of 18; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the InterRent counter in Botswana
- 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 BWP deposit; Botswana drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Botswana InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Wildlife on roads, especially at night.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Long distances between fuel stops.
InterRent's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
InterRent's minimum rental age is typically 19-21 depending on country (19 in Spain, 21 in the UK and France), and drivers aged roughly 21-24 (24 and under in some markets) pay a young-driver surcharge that varies by location, for example around 8.50 EUR/day (max ~93 EUR) in Spain, 12.95 EUR/day (max ~181 EUR) in France, and about 35 GBP/day (max ~350 GBP) in the UK; some vehicle categories require drivers to be over 25.
A refundable security deposit is pre-authorised (held, not debited) on the main driver's credit card at pick-up; the card (Visa or Mastercard, sometimes Amex) must be in the main driver's name with an expiry date after the return date, and debit cards are not accepted because their rules do not fit InterRent's deposit policy.
Additional drivers must present their own valid driving licence at the counter and sign the rental agreement at pick-up; InterRent charges an extra-driver fee per day that varies by location, though it is frequently included in promotional/package rates. The main driver must have held a full, valid driving licence for a minimum of 12 months (one year) prior to picking up the vehicle.
Cross-border travel and one-way rentals are restricted and must be authorised in advance; cross-border fees and one-way drop-off charges apply and vary by route, with certain countries (typically higher-risk or non-EU destinations) excluded entirely under the rental conditions.
InterRent requires a full, valid driving licence held for at least 12 months; for licences not written in the Latin/Roman alphabet (or otherwise not understandable to the rental agent), an International Driving Permit (IDP) must be presented alongside the original national licence, as the IDP is a translation and never replaces the physical licence.
Once you collect the keys in Botswana
Botswana currently has no national toll-road network or electronic toll tags; main highways such as the A1 (Gaborone–Francistown) are free to use. The main border-crossing cost travellers meet is the road-safety/permit levy paid on entering with a foreign-registered vehicle.
Gaborone uses paid, attended parking bays in the central business district and around malls, typically paid in cash pula to a marshal or meter, with marked disc/time limits. Illegally parked or abandoned vehicles can be clamped or towed by the city council.
Speeding and other offences draw on-the-spot fines payable in pula, and allowing cattle to stray onto the road reserve carries fines of roughly P2,000–P5,000. Handheld phone use while driving is prohibited; rental firms recover camera and unpaid-fine charges from the card on file.
By law you must stop, not move the vehicles, and report any accident to the police; the emergency number is 999 (or 997 for ambulance). A police report is required for insurance and rental claims, and you should exchange details and photograph the scene before moving anything.
Full driving guide for Botswana →