Does Sixt require an IDP in Mozambique?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Mozambique: 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.
Mozambique drives on the left and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in Portuguese.
In Mozambique specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Mozambique ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Maputo desks request an IDP for non-Portuguese licences; carry reflective vests.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Mozambique desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Mozambique drives on the left, uses the MZN, 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 Mozambique
- 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 MZN deposit; Mozambique drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Mozambique Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Two reflective triangles and a vest required.
- 0.06% alcohol limit.
- Police checkpoints are routine.
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 Mozambique
The main motorway corridors are tolled - notably the N4/EN4 from Maputo to the South African border at Ressano Garcia (the TRAC route), payable in cash (metical or rand) or by e-tag at booths. Tolls are modest and these roads are far safer than gravel alternatives.
Parking is mostly unregulated outside the cities; in central Maputo it is restricted and police-monitored, and informal guardas will watch your car for a tip. Avoid leaving valuables visible.
Traffic police commonly seek on-the-spot cash fines from foreign drivers (often for alleged speeding, missing safety equipment or document issues); request an official receipt. Rental firms pass on any documented fines, and speed traps are common on the N1/EN1.
All accidents involving foreign nationals must be reported to the police even with no injury, and you should obtain the police report for your insurer or rental company. Do not move vehicles before police attend and notify your embassy if serious.
Full driving guide for Mozambique →