Does Sixt require an IDP in Samoa?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Samoa: 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.
Samoa switched to driving on the left in 2009; an IDP is advised with your home licence, and a local temporary permit may be required.
In Samoa specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Samoa ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Apia desks may issue a local temporary permit; an IDP helps.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Samoa desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Samoa drives on the left, uses the WST, 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 Samoa
- 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 WST deposit; Samoa drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Samoa Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the left (since 2009).
- Low speed limits in villages.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Watch for pedestrians and pigs on roads.
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 Samoa
Samoa has no toll roads, vignettes or electronic tolls; all roads on Upolu and Savai'i are free to use.
There are no paid metered zones; parking in Apia is free but limited along Beach Road and at the market, so use off-street lots, and avoid blocking village access roads where local rules and fines apply.
Speed limits are 40 km/h in towns/villages and 56 km/h on the open road; seatbelts are compulsory and handheld phone use is banned, with police issuing fines that rental firms pass on to the renter. Speeding through villages draws particular enforcement.
Dial 911 for police, ambulance or fire (+685 911 from a mobile); for any injury or significant damage stop, do not move vehicles, and report to police, as a report is required and at-fault liability can be taken seriously in villages.
Full driving guide for Samoa →