Booking requirements
International driving permits and foreign licences in South Africa
By CarRentalZA editorial team · 6 min read · Updated 29 September 2026
- Licence must be
- Valid, unendorsed, with a photo and signature
- Language
- English, or an official translation with the original
- IDP
- Accompanies your licence, never replaces it
- Get it
- In your home country before you travel
- Authority
- RTMC (rtmc.co.za) for SA licence and road rules
A foreign driver's licence is accepted for car hire in South Africa provided it is valid, carries a photograph and a signature, and is printed in English, and where it is not in English you need an international driving permit or an official translation carried together with the original licence rather than instead of it.
That last point is where visitors come unstuck. An international driving permit is a translation booklet, not a licence. Handing over the permit alone at a counter or at a roadblock will not do.
Get the permit at home before you fly. South Africa does not issue them to visitors, and sorting it out after you land is slow and expensive.
When you need an international driving permit
| Your licence | What you need |
|---|---|
| Issued in English, with photo and signature | The licence alone is normally enough |
| Not in English | Original licence plus an IDP or an official translation |
| No photograph | An IDP, and expect additional identity checks |
| Expired or endorsed | Not accepted, IDP or not |
Even where your licence is in English and technically sufficient, an IDP is inexpensive and removes an argument at the counter, at a roadblock and at a border post. Several visitors carry one purely because it makes every interaction shorter.
If you plan to drive into Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho or Eswatini, carry an IDP as well. The AA lists it as recommended for Botswana and Mozambique, and it makes border checks quicker.
What the rental counter checks
- That the licence is valid and unexpired.
- That it carries a photograph and a signature.
- That the name matches your passport and the booking exactly.
- That it is in English, or accompanied by an IDP or certified translation.
- That you have held it long enough for the vehicle class you booked.
- That there are no endorsements or restrictions preventing you driving.
Bring the original of everything. Photographs on a phone, scans and photocopies are not accepted. If your name appears differently on the passport and the licence, carry the document that explains the difference.
Getting an IDP before you travel
An international driving permit is issued by an authorised body in the country that issued your licence, normally a national motoring organisation. It is issued against your existing licence, is valid for a limited period, and is not a standalone driving authorisation.
Practical points:
- Apply at home. South Africa does not issue IDPs to visitors.
- Take passport photographs and your licence to the issuing body.
- Check the validity period against your travel dates.
- Carry both documents together, every time you drive.
South Africans travelling abroad get theirs the same way, through an authorised local issuer, before departure.
Driving in South Africa as a visitor
Beyond the paperwork, a few things surprise first-time visitors:
- We drive on the left, and most hire cars here are manual unless you specifically book an automatic. Book the automatic early, they run out.
- Fuel stations are attended. You do not pump your own fuel. A small tip for the attendant is customary.
- Distances are long. Johannesburg to Cape Town is a two-day drive, not an afternoon.
- Toll plazas on the national routes take cards and cash.
- Many rental agreements restrict gravel road driving. If your itinerary includes dirt roads, check first.
The RTMC (rtmc.co.za) publishes South African road rules and licence requirements, and is the authority to check rather than a travel forum.
If your licence is refused at the counter
Ask exactly which requirement failed, in writing. The common causes:
- The licence is not in English and there is no IDP or translation.
- The licence has no photograph.
- The name does not match the passport or the booking.
- The licence has not been held long enough for the class booked.
A translation done after arrival, by a sworn translator, sometimes rescues the situation but not always, and not quickly. The reliable fix is an IDP obtained at home.
If you believe the refusal was wrong, escalate in writing to the operator's head office. The Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (miosa.co.za) takes consumer complaints against vehicle rental businesses free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an international driving permit to hire a car in South Africa?
Not if your licence is valid, unendorsed, carries a photo and signature and is printed in English. If it is in another language you need an IDP or an official translation carried with the original licence. Many visitors carry one regardless to avoid arguments.
Can I drive on an IDP alone?
No. An international driving permit is a translation of your licence, not a licence in itself. It has no standing without the original licence presented alongside it, at the rental counter or at a roadblock.
Can I get an IDP in South Africa as a visitor?
No. An IDP is issued in the country that issued your licence, normally by a national motoring organisation, and you must arrange it before you travel. Sorting out a translation after arrival is slow and may still not satisfy the counter.
How long is an IDP valid?
It is issued for a limited period, and the exact term depends on the issuing country. Check that it covers your whole trip, and note that it becomes invalid if the underlying licence expires.
Does my licence need to have been held for a minimum period?
Usually yes. Operators commonly require one to two years, longer for premium, bakkie and minibus classes. This applies to foreign licences the same way it applies to South African ones.
Will my licence be accepted at a border post into Namibia or Botswana?
The receiving country's rules apply once you cross, and requirements change. Carry an IDP, confirm current requirements with the destination authority before travel, and note that the rental operator must separately authorise the vehicle to leave South Africa.
Is a digital or app version of my licence acceptable?
No. Rental counters require the physical original document. The same applies to a photograph of the licence on your phone.
