Does Localiza require an IDP in Tanzania?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Tanzania: 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.
Tanzania drives on the left; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and self-drive safaris need a sturdy 4x4.
In Tanzania specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Tanzania ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Dar es Salaam and Arusha desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Tanzania desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Tanzania drives on the left, uses the TZS, 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 Tanzania
- 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 TZS deposit; Tanzania drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Tanzania Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Wildlife and pedestrians on roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Police speed checks 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 Tanzania
Tanzania has no electronic toll-tag system but levies cash road tolls at booths on some trunk roads, payable in Tanzanian shillings; carry small cash as cards are not accepted at toll points or most fuel stations.
In Dar es Salaam designated parking zones operate with attendant- or city-collected fees; parking on pedestrian walkways or blocking driveways risks fines or towing, so use marked bays or hotel parking.
Speed limits are 50 km/h urban and 80 km/h on highways, with radar guns and growing speed-camera use; phone-use and seatbelt offences and speeding draw immediate on-the-spot fines, and rental firms pass camera fines to the hirer.
Stop and remain at the scene; call police (general emergency 112, or 111/115) and obtain a police report, which is required for insurance and for the rental company. Do not move vehicles where there are injuries.
Full driving guide for Tanzania →