Does Hertz require an IDP in Qatar?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Qatar: the policy in plain terms
Asks foreign drivers for a licence translation when the licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet, and often for non-EU renters in much of Europe. One of the largest global rental networks, operating in 150+ 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 Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Doha desks request an IDP for most non-GCC licences.
Hertz 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 Hertz 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 Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol law while driving.
- Extensive speed-radar enforcement.
- Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.
Hertz's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Hertz's standard minimum rental age in the US and Canada is 20, though it drops to 18 in Michigan, New York and Quebec, and 19 in Alabama and Nebraska. Renters aged 20-24 pay a Young Renter fee of about USD 19 per day, and under-25s are blocked from premium, luxury and high-performance car classes.
Hertz places a hold on the renter's card for the estimated rental charges plus a security deposit that varies by location and vehicle class; debit cards are accepted at many US locations but must be Visa, MasterCard or Discover branded, in the main driver's name, and carry sufficient available funds, with extra ID/credit checks sometimes required.
Hertz charges a per-day additional-driver fee that varies by location (commonly around USD 13.50/day in the US, capped per rental); in many markets a spouse/domestic partner can be added free, and the fee is often waived for Gold Plus Rewards members. Hertz requires each driver to hold a valid full driver's licence that has typically been held for at least one year, with longer tenure (often one to two years) required for some markets and premium vehicle classes.
Driving a Hertz vehicle across a country border (e.g. US to Canada or Mexico) requires advance permission and may incur a cross-border fee, and travel into Mexico generally requires separate Mexican insurance; one-way rentals are permitted on many routes but typically carry a drop-off/one-way charge.
Hertz states that a valid driver's licence issued by the renter's home country must always be presented; an International Driving Permit is recommended (and effectively required) when the home-country licence is not in the Roman alphabet or not in English, but Hertz will not rent on an IDP alone.
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 →