Does InterRent require an IDP in Qatar?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Qatar: 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.
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 InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Doha desks request an IDP for most non-GCC licences.
InterRent runs a europe 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 InterRent 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 InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol law while driving.
- Extensive speed-radar enforcement.
- Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.
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 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 →