Issued in as fast as 8 minutesInstant digital delivery to your inboxUsed in 195+ countries
International Driver LicenceIDP-format licence translation service
Home/Rental Companies/Sixt/Guinea-Bissau
Sixt · Guinea-Bissau

Does Sixt require an IDP in Guinea-Bissau?

Daniel MercerWritten by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Yes, bring one
Many rental companies and local authorities in Guinea-Bissau ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter.
Sixt in Guinea-Bissau
Sixt IDP policyBring an IDP (foreign drivers)
Sixt footprintEurope / Global
Accepted formatLocal rules
Minimum rental age18+ (surcharge under 25)
Drives on theRight

Sixt in Guinea-Bissau: 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.

Guinea-Bissau drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence on its limited road network.

In Guinea-Bissau specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Guinea-Bissau ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Bissau rental is limited; an IDP and passport advised.

Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Guinea-Bissau desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Guinea-Bissau 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 Sixt counter in Guinea-Bissau

  • Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
  • Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
  • Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
  • Local payment for the XOF deposit; Guinea-Bissau drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.

Driving rules in Guinea-Bissau Sixt renters should know

  • Drive on the right.
  • Few paved roads outside the capital.
  • 0.05% alcohol limit.
  • Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking

Minimum age & young-driver surcharge

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.

Deposit & accepted cards

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.

Additional drivers

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).

Cross-border & one-way

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.

IDP & foreign-licence rule

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 Guinea-Bissau

Tolls & road charges

There is no functioning national motorway toll or vignette system; roads are funded publicly and you generally pay nothing to drive, though informal road barriers and checkpoints are common in the interior.

Parking in town

Parking in Bissau is largely informal and unmetered, with self-appointed attendants ('guardadores') expecting a small CFA-franc tip to watch the car; there are no painted paid-zone schemes or parking apps.

Fines & camera enforcement

Enforcement is mostly by physical police/gendarme checkpoints rather than cameras; fines are usually negotiated and paid in cash on the spot, and the documented drink-drive limit is 0.15% BAC (15 mg/100 ml).

If you have an accident

There is no reliable nationwide emergency line; in a serious crash do not move the vehicles if there are injuries, summon the Polícia de Ordem Pública locally and obtain a written police report (auto), which insurers and rental firms require.

Full driving guide for Guinea-Bissau

Common questions

01
Do I need an IDP to rent from Sixt in Guinea-Bissau?
Many rental companies and local authorities in Guinea-Bissau ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. 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.
02
What documents should I bring to the Sixt desk in Guinea-Bissau?
Bring your original national driving licence, your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format, your passport, and the payment card in the main driver's name. Guinea-Bissau drives on the right and the minimum rental age is typically 18+.
03
What is the minimum age to rent from Sixt in Guinea-Bissau?
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. Locally, Guinea-Bissau sets a minimum driving age of 18 and most desks add a young-driver surcharge under 25.
04
What deposit and card does Sixt require?
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.
05
Can I take a Sixt rental across the border or drop it one-way?
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.
06
Does Sixt charge for an additional driver?
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).
07
How do tolls work for a rental car in Guinea-Bissau?
There is no functioning national motorway toll or vignette system; roads are funded publicly and you generally pay nothing to drive, though informal road barriers and checkpoints are common in the interior.
08
What happens if I get a traffic fine driving a Sixt car in Guinea-Bissau?
Enforcement is mostly by physical police/gendarme checkpoints rather than cameras; fines are usually negotiated and paid in cash on the spot, and the documented drink-drive limit is 0.15% BAC (15 mg/100 ml).
09
What is Sixt's general policy on International Driving Permits?
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Sixt is a German-headquartered global brand operating in over 100 countries with a fleet heavily weighted toward premium and luxury vehicles (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi), and offers the SIXT+ flexible car-subscription product alongside traditional rental.
Excellent
reviews
Not usable? You don't payGet my permit · $49