Does Alamo require an IDP in Brunei?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Alamo in Brunei: 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.
Brunei drives on the left; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence, and the sultanate enforces zero alcohol.
In Brunei specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Brunei ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Alamo will typically ask for it at the counter. Bandar Seri Begawan desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Alamo runs a global network; at its Brunei desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Brunei drives on the left, uses the BND, 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 Brunei
- 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 BND deposit; Brunei drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Brunei Alamo renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Zero alcohol tolerance.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Fuel is cheap but resold to foreigners at higher rates.
Alamo's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
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.
Once you collect the keys in Brunei
Brunei has no toll roads or vignette system - the highways, including the Muara-Tutong and Telisai-Lumut links, are free to use.
Bandar Seri Begawan uses coin/voucher metered parking bays in the city centre during business hours, with free parking common in suburban and tourist areas; observe the painted bay colours and pay-and-display rules to avoid a ticket.
Seatbelts are compulsory, hand-held phone use is banned and speeding is camera- and patrol-enforced with fines; drink-driving is treated severely in this Muslim-majority sultanate. Rental firms pass camera fines back to the renter's card.
Call 993 for police; do not leave the scene of a road accident until officers attend, as a police report is mandatory for insurance and any injury claim. Ambulance is 991.
Full driving guide for Brunei →