Issued in as fast as 8 minutesInstant digital delivery to your inboxUsed in 195+ countries
International Driver LicenceIDP-format licence translation service
Alamo · Afghanistan

Does Alamo require an IDP in Afghanistan?

Daniel MercerWritten by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Yes, bring one
Many rental companies and local authorities in Afghanistan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Alamo will typically ask for it at the counter.
Alamo in Afghanistan
Alamo IDP policyBring an IDP (foreign drivers)
Alamo footprintGlobal
Accepted format1949 Geneva
Minimum rental age18+ (surcharge under 25)
Drives on theRight

Alamo in Afghanistan: the policy in plain terms

Asks for a licence translation when the licence is in a non-Latin alphabet, and suggests one for all international renters. Leisure-focused brand popular for airport pickups.

Afghanistan drives on the right; an IDP is expected with your home licence, though most visitors travel with hired drivers given road conditions.

In Afghanistan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Afghanistan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Alamo will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive rental is uncommon; an IDP and passport are expected where available.

Alamo runs a global network; at its Afghanistan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Afghanistan drives on the right, uses the AFN, 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 Alamo counter in Afghanistan

  • Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
  • Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
  • Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
  • Local payment for the AFN deposit; Afghanistan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.

Driving rules in Afghanistan Alamo renters should know

  • Drive on the right.
  • Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
  • Checkpoints are frequent.
  • Drive defensively on poorly maintained roads.

Alamo's rental terms that affect your IDP booking

Minimum age & young-driver surcharge

Alamo's standard minimum rental age in the US is 21 (18 in Michigan and New York where state law requires it); renters aged 21-24 pay a "young/youthful driver" surcharge that averages about $25 per day but varies by location (for example roughly $13/day in Michigan and $20/day in New York), and under-25 renters may be restricted to certain car classes.

Deposit & accepted cards

A major credit card in the primary renter's name is required at most locations; debit/check cards bearing a Visa, Mastercard or Discover logo are accepted at airport locations only with a ticketed return travel itinerary (Discover not accepted in Canada), and the name/address on the card and license must match, with a hold placed at pickup that reduces available funds.

Additional drivers

Additional authorized drivers typically cost about $15 per day each (around $5/day in New York), and every additional driver must also meet the minimum-age and license requirements; some promotions or contracted/corporate rates waive the fee. Alamo requires each driver to hold a valid, unexpired driver's license; the license must have been issued before the rental and held for the qualifying period, with locations commonly expecting it to have been held for at least 1 year.

Cross-border & one-way

Vehicles rented in the US may typically be driven throughout the US and Canada but cannot be taken into Mexico; vehicles rented in Canada may be driven in Canada and the US. Cross-border and one-way rentals must be disclosed and authorized at the counter, and one-way availability and drop fees vary by location.

IDP & foreign-licence rule

Alamo states an International Driving Permit cannot be used on its own and the home-country license must always be presented; an IDP is recommended (not required) when the license uses Roman/English letters, but is required when the license is in a non-Roman alphabet (e.g. Russian, Japanese, Arabic), with a typed professional translation as a substitute if no IDP is available.

Once you collect the keys in Afghanistan

Tolls & road charges

There is no organised national electronic toll or vignette system for tourists; some highway sections and bridges levy informal or cash road charges collected at checkpoints. Travel is otherwise overshadowed by security checkpoints rather than tolls.

Parking in town

There are no formal paid-zone or app-based urban parking systems; parking is informal and unmetered, typically guarded by attendants paid a small cash tip. Vehicles are best left in attended lots or hotel compounds for security.

Fines & camera enforcement

Traffic enforcement is informal and fines are typically settled in cash on the spot to police; there is no reliable centralised camera-fine system. Foreign drivers face far greater risk from security incidents than from formal penalties.

If you have an accident

After any crash do not move the vehicles and contact local police, though emergency response is unreliable; the 119 line is the nominal police number. A police report is needed for insurance and to pass checkpoints, but for safety travellers are advised to involve their embassy and a local fixer immediately.

Full driving guide for Afghanistan

Common questions

01
Do I need an IDP to rent from Alamo in Afghanistan?
Many rental companies and local authorities in Afghanistan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Alamo will typically ask for it at the counter. Alamo states an International Driving Permit cannot be used on its own and the home-country license must always be presented; an IDP is recommended (not required) when the license uses Roman/English letters, but is required when the license is in a non-Roman alphabet (e.g. Russian, Japanese, Arabic), with a typed professional translation as a substitute if no IDP is available.
02
What documents should I bring to the Alamo desk in Afghanistan?
Bring your original national driving licence, your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format, your passport, and the payment card in the main driver's name. Afghanistan drives on the right and the minimum rental age is typically 18+.
03
What is the minimum age to rent from Alamo in Afghanistan?
Alamo's standard minimum rental age in the US is 21 (18 in Michigan and New York where state law requires it); renters aged 21-24 pay a "young/youthful driver" surcharge that averages about $25 per day but varies by location (for example roughly $13/day in Michigan and $20/day in New York), and under-25 renters may be restricted to certain car classes. Locally, Afghanistan sets a minimum driving age of 18 and most desks add a young-driver surcharge under 25.
04
What deposit and card does Alamo require?
A major credit card in the primary renter's name is required at most locations; debit/check cards bearing a Visa, Mastercard or Discover logo are accepted at airport locations only with a ticketed return travel itinerary (Discover not accepted in Canada), and the name/address on the card and license must match, with a hold placed at pickup that reduces available funds.
05
Can I take a Alamo rental across the border or drop it one-way?
Vehicles rented in the US may typically be driven throughout the US and Canada but cannot be taken into Mexico; vehicles rented in Canada may be driven in Canada and the US. Cross-border and one-way rentals must be disclosed and authorized at the counter, and one-way availability and drop fees vary by location.
06
Does Alamo charge for an additional driver?
Additional authorized drivers typically cost about $15 per day each (around $5/day in New York), and every additional driver must also meet the minimum-age and license requirements; some promotions or contracted/corporate rates waive the fee. Alamo requires each driver to hold a valid, unexpired driver's license; the license must have been issued before the rental and held for the qualifying period, with locations commonly expecting it to have been held for at least 1 year.
07
How do tolls work for a rental car in Afghanistan?
There is no organised national electronic toll or vignette system for tourists; some highway sections and bridges levy informal or cash road charges collected at checkpoints. Travel is otherwise overshadowed by security checkpoints rather than tolls.
08
What happens if I get a traffic fine driving a Alamo car in Afghanistan?
Traffic enforcement is informal and fines are typically settled in cash on the spot to police; there is no reliable centralised camera-fine system. Foreign drivers face far greater risk from security incidents than from formal penalties.
09
What is Alamo's general policy on International Driving Permits?
Asks for a licence translation when the licence is in a non-Latin alphabet, and suggests one for all international renters. Alamo is part of Enterprise Mobility (formerly Enterprise Holdings) alongside Enterprise and National, with a large US airport footprint and the free Alamo Insiders loyalty program offering discounts and skip-the-counter options.
Excellent
reviews
Not usable? You don't payGet my permit · $49