Does Alamo require an IDP in Togo?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Alamo in Togo: 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.
Togo drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and motorbike taxis dominate Lomé's streets.
In Togo specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Togo ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Alamo will typically ask for it at the counter. Lomé desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
Alamo runs a global network; at its Togo desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Togo drives on the right, uses the XOF, 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 Togo
- 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 XOF deposit; Togo drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Togo Alamo renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for motorbike taxis (zémidjans).
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
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 Togo
Togo operates a small number of cash toll booths on main highways (notably the RN1/coastal corridor), with charges of roughly XOF 300 (about USD 0.50); pay in CFA francs cash at the barrier.
Lomé has no app-based or colour-zone parking system; parking is informal kerbside, frequently overseen by attendants who expect a small CFA-franc tip, and drivers should avoid blocking the busy boulevards.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants and the blood-alcohol limit is 0.08%; enforcement is mainly at police checkpoints with on-the-spot cash fines, and rental firms pass on any penalties to the hirer.
Stop and stay at the scene; call the police on 117 (fire 118, ambulance 8200), and do not move vehicles if anyone is injured, as a police report is needed for any insurance claim.