Does National require an IDP in Bolivia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Bolivia: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for non-Latin-alphabet licences and where local rules call for one. Business-traveller brand known for Emerald Aisle.
Bolivia drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised with your licence for its high-altitude and mountain roads.
In Bolivia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Bolivia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. La Paz desks request an IDP; 4x4 advised for altiplano and mountain routes.
National runs a global network; at its Bolivia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Bolivia drives on the right, uses the BOB, 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 National counter in Bolivia
- 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 BOB deposit; Bolivia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Bolivia National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- High altitude affects engine and driver performance.
- 0.07% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
National's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
The minimum age to rent is typically 21 (18 in Michigan and New York, as required by state law); renters aged 21-24 pay a "Youthful Surcharge" of approximately $25 per day (varies by location, lower in some states such as $5/day in New York) and may be restricted to certain car classes.
A major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Amex) in the primary renter's name with sufficient available credit is required; National generally does not accept debit cards, and renters without a ticketed return travel itinerary must provide a hold/deposit typically between $300 and $400 depending on location and vehicle class.
The renter's spouse or domestic partner who meets the same age and licence requirements drives free; other additional authorized drivers cost about $15 per day (typically $5/day in New York), and must be at least 21 with a valid licence. National requires a valid, unexpired full driver's licence held by the renter; for under-25 drivers some locations require the licence to have been held for at least one year, though National does not publish a uniform minimum tenure across all locations.
Vehicles rented in the U.S. or Canada are prohibited from being driven into Mexico; U.S.-Canada cross-border travel is generally permitted but one-way US/Canada drop-offs are limited to participating locations, and rentals originating in certain Mexican cities (e.g. Tijuana, Mexicali, Hermosillo, Monterrey, Saltillo) may cross into the U.S. after purchasing an extension of liability protection (about $10 USD/day).
National states that an International Driving Permit (IDP) is commonly requested in select countries and is generally recommended when travelling abroad; specifically, overseas travelers whose licence uses a non-Roman alphabet may need to present an IDP alongside their home-country licence.
Once you collect the keys in Bolivia
Most major intercity highways have toll plazas (peajes) operated by ABC and local administrations; charges are modest (a few bolivianos to ~20 Bs) and must be paid in cash, as cards are rarely accepted.
In central La Paz and Santa Cruz, paid on-street parking is managed by municipal zones and parqueo attendants; illegal or double-parked cars in congested centres can be wheel-clamped or towed, so use guarded lots (playas de estacionamiento).
Fines for speeding, no seatbelt or using a phone are issued by transit police, often expected on the spot in cash; rental firms pass on any camera or unpaid fines by charging the card on file plus an admin fee.
Call the Policia Nacional on 110 (or 911 in some cities) and the ambulance on 118; do not move vehicles until the transit police arrive and a report is filed, as the official accident report is required for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Bolivia →