Does Localiza require an IDP in Zambia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in Zambia: 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.
Zambia drives on the left and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English.
In Zambia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Zambia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. Lusaka desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its Zambia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Zambia drives on the left, uses the ZMW, 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 Zambia
- 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 ZMW deposit; Zambia drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Zambia Localiza renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Reflective triangles required for breakdowns.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Long distances between fuel stops.
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 Zambia
Zambia runs a national toll-gate system on major highways operated by the National Road Fund Agency; light foreign-registered/rental vehicles pay a modest fee (around K20) in cash at each gate, so keep small kwacha notes handy.
In central Lusaka paid bays are managed by city-council attendants who issue tickets; use guarded hotel and shopping-mall lots, and never leave valuables visible as opportunistic theft occurs.
Roadblocks are routine; default limits are 50 km/h urban, 100 km/h on highways, seatbelts compulsory and the BAC limit is 0.08%. Fines may be requested on the spot - insist on an official receipt and verify the amount; rental firms pass on camera/uninsured penalties.
Call police on 991 (general emergency 999); for injuries or major damage a police report is mandatory and needed for insurance, do not move vehicles, and always ask for a receipt for any fine. Notify your rental firm before arranging recovery.
Full driving guide for Zambia →