Does Alamo require an IDP in Malawi?
Alamo in Malawi: the policy in plain terms
Requires an IDP for licences in a non-Latin alphabet and recommends one for all international renters. Leisure-focused brand popular for airport pickups.
Malawi drives on the left; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and rural roads call for daytime travel.
In Malawi specifically, malawi legally requires foreign drivers to carry an International Driving Permit with their national licence, so Alamo will ask for it at the counter. Lilongwe desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Alamo runs a global network; at its Malawi desks, foreign renters are asked for the 1949 Geneva-format International Driving Permit alongside the original licence. Malawi drives on the left, uses the MWK, 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 Malawi
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the MWK deposit; Malawi drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Malawi Alamo renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Avoid night driving on rural roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Watch for pedestrians and cyclists.