Does National require an IDP in Canada?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Canada: 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.
Visitors can usually drive on a valid foreign licence; an IDP is recommended if your licence is not in English or French.
In Canada specifically, canada lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but National still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. Recommended for non-Latin-script licences.
National runs a global network; at its Canada desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Canada drives on the right, uses the CAD, and sets a minimum driving age of 16; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the National counter in Canada
- 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 CAD deposit; Canada drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Canada National renters should know
- Right turn on red permitted unless signed otherwise (except Montreal Island).
- Winter tyres mandatory in Quebec in winter.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Alcohol limit 0.08% federally; provinces add warn-range penalties.
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 Canada
Canada has very few toll roads; the main one is Toronto's 407 ETR, an all-electronic highway that photographs the plate and bills the vehicle owner, so rental firms pass the charge plus an admin fee. The parallel toll-free Highway 401 avoids it; Nova Scotia's Cobequid Pass and some bridges also toll.
Cities use paid on-street zones via app (e.g. Toronto's Green P, HONK, PayByPhone) or meters; watch posted permit-only residential blocks and rush-hour 'no stopping' lanes. Winter snow-route bans and street-cleaning hours trigger towing.
Speeding, handheld-phone and seatbelt fines are set provincially and are steep (Ontario distracted-driving starts around C$615 plus demerit points); Ontario also has 'stunt driving' impoundment for 40+ km/h over. Camera and toll/parking fines are forwarded to renters with a surcharge.
Call 911 for injuries. Report any collision causing injury or damage over the provincial threshold (commonly C$2,000) to police; exchange details, notify the rental company, and in many cities minor crashes are reported at a Collision Reporting Centre rather than at the scene.
Full driving guide for Canada →