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

Does Europcar require an IDP in Burkina Faso?

Daniel MercerWritten by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Yes, bring one
Many rental companies and local authorities in Burkina Faso ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter.
Europcar in Burkina Faso
Europcar IDP policyBring an IDP (foreign drivers)
Europcar footprintEurope / Global
Accepted format1949 Geneva
Minimum rental age18+ (surcharge under 25)
Drives on theRight

Europcar in Burkina Faso: the policy in plain terms

Asks for a licence translation for non-EU and non-Latin-alphabet licences across its European network. Europe's leading mobility brand.

Burkina Faso drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and mopeds fill the streets of Ouagadougou.

In Burkina Faso specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Burkina Faso ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter. Desks request an IDP for non-French licences.

Europcar runs a europe / global network; at its Burkina Faso desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Burkina Faso 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 Europcar counter in Burkina Faso

  • 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; Burkina Faso drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.

Driving rules in Burkina Faso Europcar renters should know

  • Drive on the right.
  • Dense moped traffic in cities.
  • 0.08% alcohol limit.
  • Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

Europcar's rental terms that affect your IDP booking

Minimum age & young-driver surcharge

Europcar's typical minimum rental age is 21 (some categories and countries allow rental from 18 on selected vehicles), and a Young Driver Surcharge applies to drivers aged roughly 22 to 25 - published at around EUR 30 per day in addition to the rental cost, with the exact amount varying by country per the local Specific Terms.

Deposit & accepted cards

Europcar accepts only a credit card in the main driver's name (valid with an expiry date after the scheduled return) for the deposit; the deposit amount is blocked - not debited - on the card at pick-up, or within 48 hours before pick-up for Online Check-In, and debit cards are generally not accepted for the security deposit.

Additional drivers

Only drivers registered on the rental contract may drive the car, and each additional driver must meet the same age and licence-held requirements; an additional-driver fee typically applies and is set per country. The driver must have held a full valid driving licence for at least one year (the from-18 categories also require one year's licence holding).

Cross-border & one-way

Cross-border travel must be declared and authorised, and in the UK taking a vehicle abroad requires the mandatory Europdrive product (24/7 overseas breakdown cover plus VE103B proof of ownership and a Green Card); for one-way rentals a one-way fee is charged and is included in the displayed price when pickup and return locations differ.

IDP & foreign-licence rule

Europcar requires a full valid licence held at least one year; if the licence is not written in English (or the language of the country of rental) the driver must present an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside the original national licence - this typically applies to non-Roman/non-Latin-alphabet licences, while an IDP is usually not required to drive within the EU.

Once you collect the keys in Burkina Faso

Tolls & road charges

Burkina Faso has no motorway toll network or electronic tags; the practical 'fees' travellers encounter are frequent military and police security checkpoints rather than tolls, where documents are inspected and small cash payments are sometimes solicited.

Parking in town

Ouagadougou has no formal paid-zone or app-based parking system; cars are parked in informal lots and roadside spaces where an attendant (gardien) expects a small CFA-franc tip. Use guarded hotel or compound parking overnight given vehicle-theft risk.

Fines & camera enforcement

Enforcement is mainly via on-the-spot checks at the many security checkpoints, where licence, IDP, registration and insurance must be produced and fines paid in cash CFA francs. Have documents ready at all times; failure to present them causes lengthy delays.

If you have an accident

Stop, do not move the vehicles, and contact the police/gendarmerie (police 17, fire/rescue 18) and obtain an official report for any claim. In injury cases wait for authorities; given the wider security situation, avoid lingering at remote crash scenes after dark.

Full driving guide for Burkina Faso

Common questions

01
Do I need an IDP to rent from Europcar in Burkina Faso?
Many rental companies and local authorities in Burkina Faso ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter. Europcar requires a full valid licence held at least one year; if the licence is not written in English (or the language of the country of rental) the driver must present an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside the original national licence - this typically applies to non-Roman/non-Latin-alphabet licences, while an IDP is usually not required to drive within the EU.
02
What documents should I bring to the Europcar desk in Burkina Faso?
Bring your original national driving licence, your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format, your passport, and the payment card in the main driver's name. Burkina Faso drives on the right and the minimum rental age is typically 18+.
03
What is the minimum age to rent from Europcar in Burkina Faso?
Europcar's typical minimum rental age is 21 (some categories and countries allow rental from 18 on selected vehicles), and a Young Driver Surcharge applies to drivers aged roughly 22 to 25 - published at around EUR 30 per day in addition to the rental cost, with the exact amount varying by country per the local Specific Terms. Locally, Burkina Faso sets a minimum driving age of 18 and most desks add a young-driver surcharge under 25.
04
What deposit and card does Europcar require?
Europcar accepts only a credit card in the main driver's name (valid with an expiry date after the scheduled return) for the deposit; the deposit amount is blocked - not debited - on the card at pick-up, or within 48 hours before pick-up for Online Check-In, and debit cards are generally not accepted for the security deposit.
05
Can I take a Europcar rental across the border or drop it one-way?
Cross-border travel must be declared and authorised, and in the UK taking a vehicle abroad requires the mandatory Europdrive product (24/7 overseas breakdown cover plus VE103B proof of ownership and a Green Card); for one-way rentals a one-way fee is charged and is included in the displayed price when pickup and return locations differ.
06
Does Europcar charge for an additional driver?
Only drivers registered on the rental contract may drive the car, and each additional driver must meet the same age and licence-held requirements; an additional-driver fee typically applies and is set per country. The driver must have held a full valid driving licence for at least one year (the from-18 categories also require one year's licence holding).
07
How do tolls work for a rental car in Burkina Faso?
Burkina Faso has no motorway toll network or electronic tags; the practical 'fees' travellers encounter are frequent military and police security checkpoints rather than tolls, where documents are inspected and small cash payments are sometimes solicited.
08
What happens if I get a traffic fine driving a Europcar car in Burkina Faso?
Enforcement is mainly via on-the-spot checks at the many security checkpoints, where licence, IDP, registration and insurance must be produced and fines paid in cash CFA francs. Have documents ready at all times; failure to present them causes lengthy delays.
09
What is Europcar's general policy on International Driving Permits?
Asks for a licence translation for non-EU and non-Latin-alphabet licences across its European network. Europcar is one of the world's largest car-rental brands with a very large European footprint and a free Privilege loyalty program that earns 1 point per euro spent, advancing to Privilege Elite after 25 rentals or 85 rental days.
Excellent
reviews
Not usable? You don't payGet my permit · $49