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

Does Avis require an IDP in Qatar?

Daniel MercerWritten by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Yes, bring one
Many rental companies and local authorities in Qatar ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Avis will typically ask for it at the counter.
Avis in Qatar
Avis IDP policyBring an IDP (foreign drivers)
Avis footprintGlobal
Accepted format1968 Vienna
Minimum rental age18+ (surcharge under 25)
Drives on theRight

Avis in Qatar: the policy in plain terms

Asks for a licence translation where the national licence is not in the Roman alphabet or where local rules call for one. Long-established global brand operating in 165+ countries.

Qatar drives on the right and enforces zero alcohol behind the wheel; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence.

In Qatar specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Qatar ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Avis will typically ask for it at the counter. Doha desks request an IDP for most non-GCC licences.

Avis runs a global network; at its Qatar desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Qatar drives on the right, uses the QAR, 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 Avis counter in Qatar

  • Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
  • Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
  • Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
  • Local payment for the QAR deposit; Qatar drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.

Driving rules in Qatar Avis renters should know

  • Drive on the right.
  • Zero-tolerance alcohol law while driving.
  • Extensive speed-radar enforcement.
  • Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.

Avis's rental terms that affect your IDP booking

Minimum age & young-driver surcharge

Avis's standard minimum rental age is 25, though it rents to drivers as young as 21 in most US states/provinces (some locations require 25 by local law); renters aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly $25 per day in the US (about $35/day in Canada).

Deposit & accepted cards

Avis requires an Avis-honored credit or charge card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) and places an authorization hold covering the estimated charges plus a security amount; Visa/Mastercard debit cards are accepted at most US locations but are subject to stricter checks, and the card must be in the renter's name.

Additional drivers

Additional drivers must be at least 25 (or meet the underage rules) with a valid licence and typically cost about $13 per day, capped near $65 per rental; in California the fee is waived for a spouse, parent, sibling or child of the renter. Avis requires a valid driver's licence held for the entire rental period that is not suspended, expired, revoked, cancelled or surrendered; it does not publish a fixed minimum holding period in the US, though some international locations require the licence to have been held for 1-2 years.

Cross-border & one-way

Avis generally permits US-to-Canada travel if the renting location is notified in advance, but driving into Mexico is restricted (typically corporate accounts only, no one-way, and Mexican insurance purchased through Avis from border states); one-way rentals are offered with a drop-off charge that may apply on certain rates.

IDP & foreign-licence rule

Avis states that "International Driver's Permits are valid only if presented with the original local license. An International Driver's Permit is not acceptable by itself." Foreign licences are accepted if the issuing country participated in the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or has a reciprocal agreement with the US; non-Roman-alphabet licences effectively require an IDP, and renters with a foreign licence may need to present a passport.

Once you collect the keys in Qatar

Tolls & road charges

Qatar has no general toll roads; the only charging scheme is the Lusail electronic toll, billed automatically via tag, so a tourist normally pays nothing and any Lusail charge is passed through by the rental firm.

Parking in town

Paid parking zones in Doha use Karwa/Mowasalat meters and apps with marked bays; illegal parking risks heavy fines, towing or black points, so use designated mall and street zones only.

Fines & camera enforcement

Traffic fines run from about QR 300 up to QR 6,000 for offences like speeding, phone use and no seatbelt, often camera-enforced; driving without the required IDP can mean a fine and impoundment, and rental firms pass camera fines on with a fee.

If you have an accident

Call 999 for police and ambulance and do not move the cars until an officer attends; a police report is mandatory for any insurance claim and rental return, and you can also log the incident via the Metrash2 app.

Full driving guide for Qatar

Common questions

01
Do I need an IDP to rent from Avis in Qatar?
Many rental companies and local authorities in Qatar ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Avis will typically ask for it at the counter. Avis states that "International Driver's Permits are valid only if presented with the original local license. An International Driver's Permit is not acceptable by itself." Foreign licences are accepted if the issuing country participated in the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or has a reciprocal agreement with the US; non-Roman-alphabet licences effectively require an IDP, and renters with a foreign licence may need to present a passport.
02
What documents should I bring to the Avis desk in Qatar?
Bring your original national driving licence, your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format, your passport, and the payment card in the main driver's name. Qatar drives on the right and the minimum rental age is typically 18+.
03
What is the minimum age to rent from Avis in Qatar?
Avis's standard minimum rental age is 25, though it rents to drivers as young as 21 in most US states/provinces (some locations require 25 by local law); renters aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly $25 per day in the US (about $35/day in Canada). Locally, Qatar sets a minimum driving age of 18 and most desks add a young-driver surcharge under 25.
04
What deposit and card does Avis require?
Avis requires an Avis-honored credit or charge card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) and places an authorization hold covering the estimated charges plus a security amount; Visa/Mastercard debit cards are accepted at most US locations but are subject to stricter checks, and the card must be in the renter's name.
05
Can I take a Avis rental across the border or drop it one-way?
Avis generally permits US-to-Canada travel if the renting location is notified in advance, but driving into Mexico is restricted (typically corporate accounts only, no one-way, and Mexican insurance purchased through Avis from border states); one-way rentals are offered with a drop-off charge that may apply on certain rates.
06
Does Avis charge for an additional driver?
Additional drivers must be at least 25 (or meet the underage rules) with a valid licence and typically cost about $13 per day, capped near $65 per rental; in California the fee is waived for a spouse, parent, sibling or child of the renter. Avis requires a valid driver's licence held for the entire rental period that is not suspended, expired, revoked, cancelled or surrendered; it does not publish a fixed minimum holding period in the US, though some international locations require the licence to have been held for 1-2 years.
07
How do tolls work for a rental car in Qatar?
Qatar has no general toll roads; the only charging scheme is the Lusail electronic toll, billed automatically via tag, so a tourist normally pays nothing and any Lusail charge is passed through by the rental firm.
08
What happens if I get a traffic fine driving a Avis car in Qatar?
Traffic fines run from about QR 300 up to QR 6,000 for offences like speeding, phone use and no seatbelt, often camera-enforced; driving without the required IDP can mean a fine and impoundment, and rental firms pass camera fines on with a fee.
09
What is Avis's general policy on International Driving Permits?
Asks for a licence translation where the national licence is not in the Roman alphabet or where local rules call for one. Avis is one of the largest global rental brands with about 5,500+ locations across roughly 165 countries and a strong airport presence, anchored by its Avis Preferred loyalty program.
Excellent
reviews
Not usable? You don't payGet my permit · $49