Does InterRent require an IDP in Oman?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Oman: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for non-EU and non-Roman-alphabet licences across its European locations. Europcar's value brand for leisure travellers in Europe.
Oman drives on the right and accepts the 1949 Geneva IDP; tourists should carry it with their national licence to rent a car.
In Oman specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Oman ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Muscat desks request an IDP for most non-GCC licences.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Oman desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Oman drives on the right, uses the OMR, 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 InterRent counter in Oman
- 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 OMR deposit; Oman drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Oman InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol law for driving.
- Speed cameras and radar widespread.
- 4x4 recommended for desert and wadi routes.
InterRent's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
InterRent's minimum rental age is typically 19-21 depending on country (19 in Spain, 21 in the UK and France), and drivers aged roughly 21-24 (24 and under in some markets) pay a young-driver surcharge that varies by location, for example around 8.50 EUR/day (max ~93 EUR) in Spain, 12.95 EUR/day (max ~181 EUR) in France, and about 35 GBP/day (max ~350 GBP) in the UK; some vehicle categories require drivers to be over 25.
A refundable security deposit is pre-authorised (held, not debited) on the main driver's credit card at pick-up; the card (Visa or Mastercard, sometimes Amex) must be in the main driver's name with an expiry date after the return date, and debit cards are not accepted because their rules do not fit InterRent's deposit policy.
Additional drivers must present their own valid driving licence at the counter and sign the rental agreement at pick-up; InterRent charges an extra-driver fee per day that varies by location, though it is frequently included in promotional/package rates. The main driver must have held a full, valid driving licence for a minimum of 12 months (one year) prior to picking up the vehicle.
Cross-border travel and one-way rentals are restricted and must be authorised in advance; cross-border fees and one-way drop-off charges apply and vary by route, with certain countries (typically higher-risk or non-EU destinations) excluded entirely under the rental conditions.
InterRent requires a full, valid driving licence held for at least 12 months; for licences not written in the Latin/Roman alphabet (or otherwise not understandable to the rental agent), an International Driving Permit (IDP) must be presented alongside the original national licence, as the IDP is a translation and never replaces the physical licence.
Once you collect the keys in Oman
Oman has no highway toll roads or toll-tags; major routes including the Muscat Expressway and the Nizwa and Sur highways are free to use. The only motoring charges a tourist meets are fuel, parking and any fines.
Central Muscat (Ruwi, Muttrah, CBD) uses paid on-street parking via roadside machines and the mobile apps mwqf/Mawqif, roughly 100 baisa per 30 minutes during enforced hours, free on Fridays and evenings. Parking on yellow-hatched lines or blocking traffic risks fines and towing.
Fines start around RO 10 and rise in RO 5 steps; speeding bands run from RO 10 up to RO 50 with black points, and there is a strict 0.00% drink-drive limit with jail risk. Camera fines accrue to the plate and are billed to the renter through the rental firm, often with an admin fee, before you leave the country.
Dial 9999 for police, ambulance or fire; for injury or disputed-fault crashes do not move the vehicles and wait for the Royal Oman Police, as moving can imply admission of guilt. For minor vehicle-only crashes where both agree on fault, you must move off the road and complete the ROP Simple/Minor Road Traffic Accident form (kept in the car) for insurance.