Does InterRent require an IDP in Venezuela?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Venezuela: the policy in plain terms
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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 InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive is limited; an IDP and passport are expected where available.
InterRent runs a europe 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 InterRent 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 InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Fuel can be scarce — plan refuelling.
- 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 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 →