Does Sixt require an IDP in Chad?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Chad: the policy in plain terms
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Chad drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, and desert routes require a sturdy 4x4 and supplies.
In Chad specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Chad ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. N'Djamena desks request an IDP; 4x4 essential outside the capital.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Chad desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Chad drives on the right, uses the XAF, 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 Chad
- 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 XAF deposit; Chad drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Chad Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Sandy, unpaved desert roads.
- 0.08% 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 Chad
Chad has no vignette or formal toll-road system; the limited paved roads, mainly in and around N'Djamena, are free. Most of the country is unpaved, sandy or rocky track requiring a 4x4.
There is no organised paid parking even in N'Djamena; cars are kept in guarded hotel or compound lots and unattended street parking is avoided for security and theft reasons. Engaging a guard to watch the vehicle is customary.
Checkpoints are common, especially outside N'Djamena, where officials often request documents and sometimes informal payments; carry your passport, IDP and vehicle registration and ask for official receipts. Fines for speeding or seatbelt offences are settled on the spot, not by camera.
Call police on 17 (general emergency 112 may route to local services); secure a police report for insurance and do not leave the scene. Contact your embassy, as medical and vehicle-recovery services are very limited.