Does InterRent require an IDP in Zambia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Zambia: the policy in plain terms
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Zambia drives on the left and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English.
In Zambia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Zambia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Lusaka desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Zambia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Zambia drives on the left, uses the ZMW, 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 Zambia
- 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 ZMW deposit; Zambia drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Zambia InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Reflective triangles required for breakdowns.
- 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 Zambia
Zambia runs a national toll-gate system on major highways operated by the National Road Fund Agency; light foreign-registered/rental vehicles pay a modest fee (around K20) in cash at each gate, so keep small kwacha notes handy.
In central Lusaka paid bays are managed by city-council attendants who issue tickets; use guarded hotel and shopping-mall lots, and never leave valuables visible as opportunistic theft occurs.
Roadblocks are routine; default limits are 50 km/h urban, 100 km/h on highways, seatbelts compulsory and the BAC limit is 0.08%. Fines may be requested on the spot - insist on an official receipt and verify the amount; rental firms pass on camera/uninsured penalties.
Call police on 991 (general emergency 999); for injuries or major damage a police report is mandatory and needed for insurance, do not move vehicles, and always ask for a receipt for any fine. Notify your rental firm before arranging recovery.
Full driving guide for Zambia →