Does Sixt require an IDP in Maldives?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Maldives: 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.
The Maldives drives on the left, but with resorts spread across islands there is little driving; an IDP is rarely needed beyond Malé.
In Maldives specifically, maldives lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but Sixt still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. Car rental is minimal; transport is mostly by boat and seaplane.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Maldives desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Maldives drives on the left, uses the MVR, and sets a minimum driving age of 18; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the Sixt counter in Maldives
- 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 MVR deposit; Maldives drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Maldives Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the left in Malé.
- Motorbikes dominate the capital.
- 0.0% alcohol tolerance.
- Most islands have no roads to drive.
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 Maldives
There are no toll roads or toll systems; the road network is limited to individual islands. The only substantial roads for visitors are on Hulhumale, the Male-Hulhumale Sinamale Bridge, and a handful of larger resort and inhabited islands.
Parking in Male and Hulhumale is tightly congested and regulated, with designated bays and frequent clamping or fines for illegal parking; most visitors rely on taxis rather than self-drive. Motorbikes dominate and parking space is scarce.
Police enforce speeding (limits are very low, around 30-40 km/h in built-up areas), seatbelt and phone rules with on-the-spot fines payable in rufiyaa. Penalties are modest in cash terms but strictly applied on Male and Hulhumale.
Dial 119 for police and 102 for ambulance. Report any accident to the Maldives Police Service and do not move vehicles in a serious or injury collision until police attend.
Full driving guide for Maldives →