Does Localiza require an IDP in South Sudan?
Localiza in South Sudan: 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.
South Sudan drives on the right; an IDP is expected with your home licence, and most travel relies on 4x4s and arranged drivers.
In South Sudan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in South Sudan 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 is rare; an IDP, passport and 4x4 are expected where available.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its South Sudan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. South Sudan drives on the right, uses the SSP, 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 South Sudan
- 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 SSP deposit; South Sudan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in South Sudan Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Unpaved roads outside Juba.
- Checkpoints are frequent.
- 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 South Sudan
There is no national electronic toll or vignette system; the road network is overwhelmingly unpaved outside Juba, so visitors pay nothing in formal tolls but should budget cash for informal checkpoint demands.
There are no organised paid parking zones; in Juba parking is informal kerbside, often watched by self-appointed attendants who expect a small cash tip, and vehicles should never be left unattended with valuables visible.
Enforcement is largely manual at checkpoints with on-the-spot cash fines negotiated in person; foreign drivers without proper documents risk vehicle hold-ups, and a 4x4 with comprehensive insurance is strongly advised as cover can be voided without an IDP.
After a crash do not move the vehicles if there are injuries; call police (the general emergency line is 777) and remain at the scene, as a police report is required for any insurance claim and leaving can be treated as a serious offence.
Full driving guide for South Sudan →