Does InterRent require an IDP in Mauritius?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Mauritius: 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.
Mauritius drives on the left; visitors can use a valid licence for short stays, with an IDP advised for non-Latin-script holders.
In Mauritius specifically, mauritius 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. Desks accept many foreign licences; an IDP helps non-Latin-script drivers.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Mauritius desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Mauritius drives on the left, uses the MUR, 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 Mauritius
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the MUR deposit; Mauritius drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Mauritius InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Narrow roads and frequent roundabouts.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
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 Mauritius
There are currently no road tolls in Mauritius; all routes, including the M1/M2/M3 motorways, are free, though some newly built privately funded roads parallel to existing free routes may be tolled in future.
Free parking is widespread except in Port Louis, Curepipe, Quatre Bornes and Rose Hill, where paid bays use prepaid parking coupons/cards costing roughly Rs 20-30 per 30 minutes. Display the scratched coupon on the dashboard or risk a fine.
Speeding, mobile-phone use and seatbelt offences draw fixed fines and police can issue on-the-spot contraventions; rental firms pass camera-detected speed-camera fines to the hirer's card with an admin fee. Drink-driving limits are low and enforced.
Call 999 (police/ambulance) or 112; reporting is required where there is injury or significant damage. Photograph the scene, exchange details, and only move vehicles if they pose a danger to other traffic while awaiting police.
Full driving guide for Mauritius →