Does Sixt require an IDP in Mauritius?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Mauritius: 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.
Mauritius drives on the left; visitors can use a valid licence for short stays, with an IDP advised for non-Latin-script holders.
In Mauritius specifically, mauritius 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. Desks accept many foreign licences; an IDP helps non-Latin-script drivers.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Mauritius desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Mauritius drives on the left, uses the MUR, 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 Mauritius
- 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 MUR deposit; Mauritius drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Mauritius Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Narrow roads and frequent roundabouts.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
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 Mauritius
There are currently no road tolls in Mauritius; all routes, including the M1/M2/M3 motorways, are free, though some newly built privately funded roads parallel to existing free routes may be tolled in future.
Free parking is widespread except in Port Louis, Curepipe, Quatre Bornes and Rose Hill, where paid bays use prepaid parking coupons/cards costing roughly Rs 20-30 per 30 minutes. Display the scratched coupon on the dashboard or risk a fine.
Speeding, mobile-phone use and seatbelt offences draw fixed fines and police can issue on-the-spot contraventions; rental firms pass camera-detected speed-camera fines to the hirer's card with an admin fee. Drink-driving limits are low and enforced.
Call 999 (police/ambulance) or 112; reporting is required where there is injury or significant damage. Photograph the scene, exchange details, and only move vehicles if they pose a danger to other traffic while awaiting police.
Full driving guide for Mauritius →