Does Alamo require an IDP in Algeria?

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Most Algerian roads are toll-free; the main exception is the East-West Highway (Autoroute Est-Ouest) linking the Tunisian and Moroccan borders, where booths take cash in Algerian dinar, so carry small notes. There is no vignette or electronic-tag system to buy in advance.

In Algiers, parking is informal: roving attendants (gardiens/parkingueurs) in reflective vests direct you into street spaces and expect a small dinar tip to watch the car. Formal enforcement is light and ticketing/towing mainly happens when you obstruct traffic; use guarded hotel parking overnight where possible.

An overhauled traffic code (190 articles) sharply increased penalties; speeding, red-light running, phone use and seatbelt offences draw graduated fines that can include licence points or bans, and minor fines are often collected on the spot in cash. Alcohol behind the wheel is heavily penalised. Rental firms recover camera/checkpoint fines from the renter.

Stop, do not move the vehicles, and call police on 17 (or 1548) in towns or the Gendarmerie on 1055 on rural roads; the unified mobile emergency number is 112. Photograph the scene and obtain a police report (constat) for your insurer or rental company before vehicles are moved.