Does Localiza require an IDP in Mozambique?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Mozambique: 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.
Mozambique drives on the left and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in Portuguese.
In Mozambique specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Mozambique ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Maputo desks request an IDP for non-Portuguese licences; carry reflective vests.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Mozambique desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Mozambique drives on the left, uses the MZN, 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 Mozambique
- 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 MZN deposit; Mozambique drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Mozambique Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Two reflective triangles and a vest required.
- 0.06% alcohol limit.
- Police checkpoints are routine.
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 Mozambique
The main motorway corridors are tolled - notably the N4/EN4 from Maputo to the South African border at Ressano Garcia (the TRAC route), payable in cash (metical or rand) or by e-tag at booths. Tolls are modest and these roads are far safer than gravel alternatives.
Parking is mostly unregulated outside the cities; in central Maputo it is restricted and police-monitored, and informal guardas will watch your car for a tip. Avoid leaving valuables visible.
Traffic police commonly seek on-the-spot cash fines from foreign drivers (often for alleged speeding, missing safety equipment or document issues); request an official receipt. Rental firms pass on any documented fines, and speed traps are common on the N1/EN1.
All accidents involving foreign nationals must be reported to the police even with no injury, and you should obtain the police report for your insurer or rental company. Do not move vehicles before police attend and notify your embassy if serious.
Full driving guide for Mozambique →