Does Sixt require an IDP in Angola?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Angola: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Premium European brand with a fast-growing global network.
Angola drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, and Luanda's traffic and rough rural roads call for caution.
In Angola specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Angola ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Luanda desks request an IDP; 4x4 advised outside the capital.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Angola desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Angola drives on the right, uses the AOA, 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 Sixt counter in Angola
- 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 AOA deposit; Angola drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Angola Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Heavy congestion in Luanda.
- 0.06% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Minimum age is region-specific: typically 21 in the US (18 in New York, where an under-25 fee still applies) and 18 in much of continental Europe such as Germany and France; drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly USD 25-30 per day in the US (about GBP 36 per rental in the UK, around EUR 5-6 per day in markets like Cyprus), and under-25s are usually limited to economy through full-size sedans, midsize SUVs and minivans.
A credit or debit card in the main driver's name must be presented at pickup; Sixt holds a security deposit of at least USD 200 plus the rental amount on the card, with substantially higher holds on premium/high-value vehicles, and debit-card acceptance and limits vary by branch and vehicle class.
A per-rental additional-driver fee applies; extra drivers can be added at any Sixt branch during the rental provided the main driver is present and the additional driver shows a valid licence (some European markets waive the fee for a spouse/partner). The driver must typically have held a full valid licence for at least 1 year (rising to 2-3 years in higher-risk markets such as Cyprus, while Germany requires the licence be held only since at least the day before pickup).
Most Sixt passenger vehicles may be driven across borders into listed neighbouring countries (e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy within Europe), but you must notify and get authorisation from the pickup branch in advance; a cross-border and/or one-way drop-off fee applies, and certain vehicle classes and destination countries are restricted.
Sixt does not require an International Driving Permit everywhere, but states that where local law requires it the IDP must be carried alongside the original home licence; if the licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.) the renter must present an IDP or an official translation, and an official translation is also required if the issuing country is not party to the international driving-permit treaty.
Once you collect the keys in Angola
Angola has no developed toll-road or vignette system, so tourists do not buy tolls in advance; budget instead for high fuel and rental costs and for informal police stops. Carry small cash for any unofficial requests at checkpoints.
In Luanda parking is scarce, streets are narrow and congested, and there are no formal paid zones or apps; use guarded hotel or shopping-centre parking. Never leave a car parked overnight on the street, as theft and break-ins are common; informal attendants will watch a car for a tip.
Speeding, seatbelt and phone-use offences carry graduated fines and, for serious cases, points or bans; urban limits are typically 60 km/h. Fines are often handled on the spot, sometimes informally in cash, so insist on official documentation, and any camera or checkpoint fines are passed on by rental firms.
Drive on the right; after a crash stop and do not move the vehicles, and call police on 113 (ambulance 112, fire 115). Get a police report for your insurer or rental firm, and be aware that response can be slow and English is rarely spoken.
Full driving guide for Angola →