Does Enterprise require an IDP in Qatar?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Enterprise in Qatar: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation alongside your home licence in many countries across Europe, Asia and South America. The world's largest car-rental brand by fleet size.
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 Enterprise will typically ask for it at the counter. Doha desks request an IDP for most non-GCC licences.
Enterprise 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 Enterprise 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 Enterprise renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol law while driving.
- Extensive speed-radar enforcement.
- Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.
Enterprise's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Enterprise's minimum rental age is 21 in most of the U.S. (18 in Michigan and New York, and 18 for U.S. government employees on official orders); renters aged 21-24 pay a "Young Renter Fee" that typically averages around $25/day but varies by location (e.g., 21-24 is $15.75/day in Michigan and $30.75/day in New York, with 18-20 fees of $36.50 and $64.75/day respectively).
The contract holder must present their own credit card in their name with sufficient available credit; deposits typically run between $200 and $850 depending on location and vehicle class (airport holds are typically about 120% of the rental). Debit cards bearing a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover logo may be accepted at some locations, but at airports only with a ticketed return-travel itinerary, and prepaid cards are not accepted.
Each additional authorized driver is typically charged about $15.00 per day, but a renter's spouse or domestic partner who meets the same age and licence requirements is added at no charge. Enterprise requires each renter and additional driver to hold a valid, unexpired driver's licence; it does not publish a fixed minimum holding period in the U.S., though young-renter (under-25) restrictions and surcharges apply instead.
Taking a U.S.-rented vehicle across the Mexican or Canadian border requires advance approval; renters must contact the renting branch or call center for the correct procedure and any required insurance, and cross-border travel is restricted or prohibited at many locations. One-way rentals are offered but availability and drop-off fees vary by branch.
For renters under 25, Enterprise states it does not accept an International Driver's Permit as identification; a valid photo driver's licence is required. Foreign renters generally need their home-country licence (an IDP is recommended as a translation supplement but is not a stand-alone substitute for the licence).
Once you collect the keys 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.
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.
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.
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 →