Does Localiza require an IDP in Cuba?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Cuba: the policy in plain terms
Asks foreign renters to present a licence translation with their home licence at the counter across Brazil and Latin America. The largest car-rental company in Latin America.
Cuba drives on the right and accepts a valid foreign licence with an IDP recommended; rental cars are scarce and best booked well ahead.
In Cuba specifically, cuba lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but Localiza still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. Cars are limited and pre-booking is essential; an IDP is recommended.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Cuba desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Cuba drives on the right, uses the CUP, and sets a minimum driving age of 21; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the Localiza counter in Cuba
- 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 CUP deposit; Cuba drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Cuba Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for cyclists, carts and pedestrians on highways.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Fuel can be hard to find — fill up when you can.
Localiza's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
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.
Once you collect the keys in Cuba
Cuba's autopistas (such as the A1 Havana-Santiago and the short A3) are toll-free, so there is no toll system for tourists to pay; roads are free but often poorly lit and shared with cyclists, livestock and horse carts.
In Havana use guarded 'parqueo' lots or pay an informal attendant ('parqueador') a few CUP/USD to watch the car; 'tourist' red plates draw attention, so leave nothing visible and avoid unlit street parking overnight.
Traffic fines are issued on the spot by police who note the violation against the rental contract/licence; speeding, phone use and seatbelt breaches draw fines, and because of strict liability rules foreign drivers face serious legal exposure after any collision causing injury.
Call police and the rental company and do NOT leave the scene or move the car until both arrive; in any injury accident you may be barred from leaving the country until the investigation concludes, so a foreign driver should never admit fault or settle informally.