Does National require an IDP in Dominica?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Dominica: 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.
Dominica drives on the left and requires visitors to buy a local driving permit, typically arranged at the rental desk.
In Dominica specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Dominica ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. A local visitor's permit is issued at the desk; an IDP helps.
National runs a global network; at its Dominica desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Dominica drives on the left, uses the XCD, 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 Dominica
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the XCD deposit; Dominica drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Dominica National renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Buy a local driving permit.
- Steep, winding mountain roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
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 Dominica
Dominica has no toll roads or toll system; roads are free to use but are steep, narrow and winding, so allow far more time than distances suggest.
Roseau has very limited parking; use the designated lots and bus-station area rather than the riverfront promenade, mind yellow-lined no-parking curbs, and on the island's tight mountain roads pull fully off the carriageway.
Police enforce a 20 mph (32 km/h) limit in towns and around 40 mph in rural areas, plus seatbelt and no-phone rules; fines are issued for speeding and other infractions, and driving without the mandatory visitor's permit is itself an offence.
Driving is on the LEFT; after a crash call the 911 emergency centre (the old 999 may still connect during transition), notify the rental company, and do not move the vehicles until police attend and record the scene.
Full driving guide for Dominica →