Car rental in Tunisia with a foreign licence is simple at VIPCAR: if your licence is printed in the Latin alphabet, as in the UK, the US, Canada or any EU country, it is accepted as it is. Founded in 2001, with 250+ vehicles and offices in Tunis Lac 2, Gabès and at Djerba airport, VIPCAR rents to travellers from all over the world every day. The conditions fit in three lines: be 21 or over, have held your licence for at least two years and show your passport. An International Driving Permit is recommended only if your licence is not written in the Latin alphabet. This page explains who can rent, which documents to bring, how the deposit works and what to expect on Tunisian roads, so you can book from home with confidence.
Who can rent a car in Tunisia with a foreign licence
The rules are the same for every nationality and every licence. To rent a self-drive car from VIPCAR, the driver must meet the following conditions, checked at handover against the original documents:
No young-driver fee is published. An additional driver is available on request and confirmed at booking, and their licence is checked in the same way. If one of these conditions is not met, self-drive rental is not possible; a chauffeur or private transfer can still be arranged, on quote.
- Age: 21 or over on the first day of the rental.
- Licence seniority: a driving licence held for at least 2 years.
- Identity: a valid passport, or a national ID card.
- Deposit: a credit or debit card (both are accepted) for the refundable security deposit.
- Script: a licence in the Latin alphabet is accepted as it is; otherwise an International Driving Permit is recommended.
Can I rent a car in Tunisia with a UK or US licence?
Yes. Any licence printed in the Latin alphabet is accepted without translation or extra paperwork: British, Irish, American, Canadian, French, Belgian, German, Italian, Spanish, Swiss, Dutch, Scandinavian, Australian and many more. You simply present the original card with your passport, and the agent checks the issue date and the expiry date. For US drivers, a state-issued licence works exactly like any other.
The licence must remain valid for the whole rental. Tunisians living abroad who hold a European or North American licence rent on exactly the same terms as any other visitor. Nothing else is required of tourists: the quote, the booking and the handover are handled in English or French, on WhatsApp or online, before you even leave home.
International Driving Permit Tunisia: when car hire needs one
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your licence into several languages, issued in the country that issued your licence. It is not a licence on its own: it is always shown together with the original. For car hire in Tunisia, VIPCAR recommends an IDP in one case only, when your licence is not written in the Latin alphabet.
An IDP has to be obtained before you travel, from the organisation that issues them in your country; it cannot be issued in Tunisia. When in doubt, send a photo of your licence on WhatsApp at +216 55 771 077 before you book.
- Licence printed only in Arabic (some Gulf licences, for example): IDP recommended.
- Licence in Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean or another non-Latin script: IDP recommended.
- Licence from the UK, the US, Canada, the EU or any other country using the Latin alphabet: no IDP required by VIPCAR.
Documents checklist for collecting your car
With the right documents in hand, the handover at the airport or the office takes only a few minutes. Bring the originals of:
At handover the agent walks round the car with you, records its condition and fuel level on the contract, and shows you the controls if the model is new to you. During the rental, keep your passport, licence and rental contract in the car: you will be asked for them at roadside checks.
- Your passport (or national ID card).
- Your driving licence, held for at least 2 years and valid for the whole rental.
- Your International Driving Permit, if your licence is not in the Latin alphabet.
- A credit or debit card for the refundable deposit.
- Your booking confirmation or WhatsApp quote, and your flight number for airport delivery.
Deposit, insurance and your maximum liability
Foreign visitors often ask what happens if something goes wrong. Every VIPCAR rental includes basic third-party insurance, and no extra insurance package, excess reduction or CDW is sold at the counter. Instead, a refundable security deposit is held for the length of the rental, and that deposit is your maximum liability: whatever happens, nothing is charged beyond it.
The deposit is held on a credit or debit card, both accepted, and returned in full when the car comes back in good condition. The exact amount for each model is shown on its car page and in your quote. A deposit always applies, whatever your nationality or licence.
- Economy cars: 1,500 to 3,000 TND.
- Standard cars: 5,000 TND.
- Luxury cars: 6,000 to 8,000 TND.
Driving in Tunisia as a visitor: the essentials
Tunisia drives on the right, like continental Europe and North America; drivers from the UK and Ireland will be on the opposite side of the road from home, one more reason to choose an automatic. A few practical points:
Our driving in Tunisia guide goes into more detail.
- Commonly published speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on open roads, 110 km/h on motorways. Road signs take precedence; check current rules before you travel.
- Police and National Guard checkpoints are routine on main roads: slow down, stop if signalled and show your documents.
- Keep your passport, licence (and IDP if you have one) and rental contract in the car at all times.
- 300 km per day are included, cumulative over the whole rental.
- Fuel is full-to-full: return the car with the level you received it at.
- Driving outside Tunisia is not permitted: the car cannot cross into Algeria or Libya.
Choosing a car when you have your own driving habits
Many visitors, especially from the US and the UK, only drive automatics. A large part of the VIPCAR fleet is automatic: the Kia Picanto and Volkswagen Golf 8 for town and coast, the Suzuki Ciaz and Toyota Corolla hybrid as sedans, and the Volkswagen T-Cross, Toyota RAV4 hybrid and BYD Song Plus hybrid as SUVs. For a family or a group, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and the Mercedes V-Class seat 7 and are automatic too.
If a manual gearbox suits you, the Hyundai i20, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Passat are also available, as is the Toyota Hilux pick-up. Write "automatic" in your quote request: the gearbox is confirmed in writing, together with the model, the dates and everything included. Today's rate for each car is shown on its car page.
Airport delivery and booking from abroad
Most foreign drivers collect their car as soon as they land. Delivery and collection are free at Tunis-Carthage (TUN), Enfidha-Hammamet (NBE) and Djerba-Zarzis (DJE) airports: send your flight number, an agent meets you in arrivals with a name sign and the car is waiting at the exit. You can also collect it from our offices in Tunis Lac 2, Gabès or at Djerba airport.
The minimum rental is 3 days. A one-way rental, for example Tunis to Djerba, costs €70 to €100 depending on the route. You can pay in TND, EUR, USD, GBP or SAR, in cash, by card, bank transfer, PayPal or Revolut. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up; inside 24 hours the reservation deposit is not refunded and a 20% fee applies. Full conditions are in our terms and conditions.
Licence too recent or under 21? Take a chauffeur
If you have held your licence for less than two years, are under 21, or would simply rather not drive in an unfamiliar country, VIPCAR can still get you around. Our private transfers link Tunis-Carthage, Enfidha-Hammamet and Djerba-Zarzis airports with your hotel, with meet and greet and flight tracking, and our chauffeur service puts a professional French- and English-speaking driver at the wheel of a Mercedes E-Class or V-Class, by the hour, the day or over several days.
There is no fixed public price list for these services: the fare depends on date, time, route and availability, and you receive a fixed quote on WhatsApp before you travel. Your licence plays no part here; just tell us where and when.
