Does Sixt require an IDP in Zambia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Zambia: 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.
Zambia drives on the left and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English.
In Zambia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Zambia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Lusaka desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Zambia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Zambia drives on the left, uses the ZMW, 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 Zambia
- 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 ZMW deposit; Zambia drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Zambia Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Reflective triangles required for breakdowns.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Long distances between fuel stops.
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 Zambia
Zambia runs a national toll-gate system on major highways operated by the National Road Fund Agency; light foreign-registered/rental vehicles pay a modest fee (around K20) in cash at each gate, so keep small kwacha notes handy.
In central Lusaka paid bays are managed by city-council attendants who issue tickets; use guarded hotel and shopping-mall lots, and never leave valuables visible as opportunistic theft occurs.
Roadblocks are routine; default limits are 50 km/h urban, 100 km/h on highways, seatbelts compulsory and the BAC limit is 0.08%. Fines may be requested on the spot - insist on an official receipt and verify the amount; rental firms pass on camera/uninsured penalties.
Call police on 991 (general emergency 999); for injuries or major damage a police report is mandatory and needed for insurance, do not move vehicles, and always ask for a receipt for any fine. Notify your rental firm before arranging recovery.
Full driving guide for Zambia →