Does Europcar require an IDP in Ghana?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Europcar in Ghana: 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.
Ghana drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised with your national licence for Accra's busy roads.
In Ghana specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Ghana ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter. Accra desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Europcar runs a europe / global network; at its Ghana desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Ghana drives on the right, uses the GHS, 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 Ghana
- 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 GHS deposit; Ghana drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Ghana Europcar renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Heavy urban congestion in Accra.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Europcar's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
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.
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.
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 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.
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 Ghana
Ghana abolished all road and bridge tolls in the 2022 budget (effective late 2021), so there are currently no toll booths or passes to buy on public roads.
Central Accra parking is largely on-street and informal, with car-park boys and private lots charging a few cedis; congestion, double-parking and obstruction around markets like Makola can lead to clamping or removal, so prefer guarded hotel or mall car parks.
Police checkpoints are frequent and foreign drivers are stopped for document checks; on-the-spot fines (often cash) apply for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, and rental companies pass any camera or unpaid fines on to the renter.
Drive on the right; call the Police on 191 or the national emergency line 112, do not move vehicles after an injury crash, and get a police report, which is mandatory for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Ghana →