Does InterRent require an IDP in Yemen?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
InterRent in Yemen: the policy in plain terms
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Yemen drives on the right; an IDP is expected with your home licence, though conditions mean visitors typically rely on arranged local drivers.
In Yemen specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Yemen ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so InterRent will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive is rare; an IDP and passport are expected where rental exists.
InterRent runs a europe network; at its Yemen desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Yemen drives on the right, uses the YER, 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 Yemen
- 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 YER deposit; Yemen drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Yemen InterRent renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Frequent checkpoints.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
- Drive defensively on intercity roads.
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 Yemen
There is no developed motorway or electronic toll network; long-distance routes instead pass through numerous military and tribal checkpoints where informal payments or document checks, rather than formal tolls, are the norm. Carry cash and copies of your IDP, passport and any travel permits at every checkpoint.
There are no organised paid parking zones or apps; in Sana'a and Aden you simply park on the street, ideally in a guarded hotel compound or where an attendant watches the car for a tip. Vehicle theft and carjacking are real risks, so never leave a car unattended in an unsecured spot.
Formal traffic-fine enforcement is weak and inconsistent amid the conflict; the bigger risks are detention or fines at checkpoints for missing permits, and a strict nationwide alcohol ban means any drink-driving is treated severely. Do not photograph checkpoints, police or military.
Stop and do not move the vehicles; there is no reliable single emergency line nationwide, so contact local police or the nearest checkpoint/military post, which often handle incidents. Obtain whatever written report you can for insurance, and be aware that injury crashes can trigger tribal blood-money (diya) claims that are settled locally.
Full driving guide for Yemen →