Does Localiza require an IDP in Togo?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Togo: 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.
Togo drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and motorbike taxis dominate Lomé's streets.
In Togo specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Togo ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Lomé desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Togo desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Togo drives on the right, uses the XOF, 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 Togo
- 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 XOF deposit; Togo drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Togo Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for motorbike taxis (zémidjans).
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- 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 Togo
Togo operates a small number of cash toll booths on main highways (notably the RN1/coastal corridor), with charges of roughly XOF 300 (about USD 0.50); pay in CFA francs cash at the barrier.
Lomé has no app-based or colour-zone parking system; parking is informal kerbside, frequently overseen by attendants who expect a small CFA-franc tip, and drivers should avoid blocking the busy boulevards.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants and the blood-alcohol limit is 0.08%; enforcement is mainly at police checkpoints with on-the-spot cash fines, and rental firms pass on any penalties to the hirer.
Stop and stay at the scene; call the police on 117 (fire 118, ambulance 8200), and do not move vehicles if anyone is injured, as a police report is needed for any insurance claim.