Does Localiza require an IDP in Botswana?

Localiza's minimum rental age is 18 (lowered from 21 across Brazil), but drivers under 21 must add the mandatory "Condutor Jovem" (Young Driver) surcharge at booking; the exact fee is set per rental/location and quoted at reservation rather than published as a flat amount.

A credit card (physical or contactless) in the reservation holder's or financial responsible party's name is required for a pre-authorization hold; debit cards are not accepted for the security guarantee. Customers without a credit card can instead pass a weekday business-hours credit evaluation, with daily rentals up to 28 days available for an approximately R$39.90 fee if approved.

Each additional driver must be registered on the contract and present a valid licence and ID at the counter; Localiza does not publish a flat additional-driver fee, charging it per rate plan and location at pickup. Localiza requires a valid full driver's licence but does not publish a fixed minimum holding period; instead the young-driver surcharge (under-21) is the gating control, so a valid current licence is the stated requirement.

Cross-border driving within Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) requires the mandatory "Carta Verde"/Green Card insurance and advance authorization, typically requested at booking; one-way rentals returning in a different country incur a one-way fee that is usually higher than the cross-border fee, so both must be arranged in advance.

Foreign customers must present a valid licence from a country in Brazil's "Reciprocity Agreement" plus a passport, and may drive for up to 180 days from their date of entry (respecting the original licence validity); entry must be proven with a passport stamp, boarding pass, or immigration approval document. An International Driving Permit is referenced under the applicable legislation for non-reciprocity or non-Roman-alphabet licences.

Botswana currently has no national toll-road network or electronic toll tags; main highways such as the A1 (Gaborone–Francistown) are free to use. The main border-crossing cost travellers meet is the road-safety/permit levy paid on entering with a foreign-registered vehicle.

Gaborone uses paid, attended parking bays in the central business district and around malls, typically paid in cash pula to a marshal or meter, with marked disc/time limits. Illegally parked or abandoned vehicles can be clamped or towed by the city council.

Speeding and other offences draw on-the-spot fines payable in pula, and allowing cattle to stray onto the road reserve carries fines of roughly P2,000–P5,000. Handheld phone use while driving is prohibited; rental firms recover camera and unpaid-fine charges from the card on file.

By law you must stop, not move the vehicles, and report any accident to the police; the emergency number is 999 (or 997 for ambulance). A police report is required for insurance and rental claims, and you should exchange details and photograph the scene before moving anything.