Does Localiza require an IDP in Ethiopia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Ethiopia: 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.
Ethiopia drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, though Addis Ababa traffic and rural roads lead many to hire drivers.
In Ethiopia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Ethiopia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive desks ask for an IDP; chauffeured hire is common.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Ethiopia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Ethiopia drives on the right, uses the ETB, 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 Localiza counter in Ethiopia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the ETB deposit; Ethiopia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Ethiopia Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for pedestrians and livestock.
- Zero alcohol tolerance.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
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 Ethiopia
The Addis Ababa-Adama expressway is Ethiopia's main toll road, paid in cash or by prepaid card at toll plazas; most other roads are toll-free.
Addis Ababa runs digital, app/meter-based paid parking zones with marshals; parking in no-parking zones, blocking entrances or using disabled bays draws fines.
Speeding 6-10 km/h over brings a 1,500 birr fine plus demerit points and 11-20 km/h over a 1,700 birr fine; running lights, phone use and lane violations carry 1,500 birr fines, and rental firms recover camera fines from renters.
Stop immediately, never leave the scene, and call police; a police report is mandatory, and because Ethiopia has one of the world's highest road-death rates, crowds can gather quickly, so prioritise safety.
Full driving guide for Ethiopia →