Does InterRent require an IDP in Gabon?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Gabon: the policy in plain terms
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Gabon drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and rainforest roads can be muddy and slow.
In Gabon specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Gabon ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Libreville desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Gabon desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Gabon drives on the right, uses the XAF, 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 InterRent counter in Gabon
- 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 XAF deposit; Gabon drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Gabon InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Wet, slippery roads in the rainy season.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
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 Gabon
Gabon has no national toll-road or vignette system; major routes such as the N1 are toll-free, so no electronic tag or pass is needed.
Parking in central Libreville is informal and largely on-street, often watched by self-appointed gardiens who expect a small CFA-franc tip; there are no colour-coded paid zones, and illegally parked cars near markets and the Boulevard du Bord de Mer can be moved or blocked.
Police checkpoints are frequent and foreign drivers are commonly stopped for document checks; on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use are typical, and rental companies will pass any unpaid penalty to your card.
Call the police on 1730 or the general emergency line 1300/112 (Libreville police 177); do not move vehicles after an injury accident and wait for police, as a written police report (constat) is needed for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Gabon →