Does InterRent require an IDP in Jamaica?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Jamaica: 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.
Jamaica drives on the left and lets visitors use a valid foreign licence for short stays; an IDP is advised for non-English licences.
In Jamaica specifically, jamaica 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. Montego Bay and Kingston desks accept English licences; an IDP helps.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Jamaica desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Jamaica drives on the left, uses the JMD, 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 Jamaica
- 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 JMD deposit; Jamaica drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Jamaica InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Narrow, winding roads with aggressive overtaking.
- 0.035% alcohol limit.
- Watch for pedestrians and goats on rural roads.
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 Jamaica
Highway 2000 (the T1/T3 corridors linking Kingston, Mandeville, Ocho Rios and the airport) is the main toll road, paid by cash or a prepaid T-Tag transponder, with section tolls roughly J$300-J$700.
In Kingston and Montego Bay use paid/guarded lots and hotel parking; metered and time-limited street zones exist downtown and illegally parked cars can be ticketed or clamped. Many tourist areas rely on attended lots where a small tip is expected.
Speeding, no seatbelt and phone use draw fixed fines under the Road Traffic Act, and speed-camera/red-light tickets are passed on by rental firms to your card; police road stops are routine and may issue on-the-spot tickets.
Remember you drive on the LEFT. After a crash do not move vehicles if anyone is injured; call police on 119 and get an official report for insurance/rental claims.
Full driving guide for Jamaica →