Does National require an IDP in Ecuador?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Ecuador: 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.
Ecuador drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised with your licence for Andean and coastal driving.
In Ecuador specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Ecuador ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Quito and Guayaquil desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
National runs a global network; at its Ecuador desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Ecuador drives on the right, uses the USD, 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 Ecuador
- 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 USD deposit; Ecuador drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Ecuador National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Pico y placa plate restrictions in Quito.
- 0.03% alcohol limit.
- Steep Andean roads with switchbacks.
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 Ecuador
Major highways (e.g. the Panamericana and routes around Quito and Guayaquil) have toll booths (peajes) charging roughly USD 1 or less per car; pay in US dollars cash, as the country uses the USD.
Quito's centre uses the municipal 'Zona Azul' paid-parking scheme during business hours; parking in restricted spots risks fines or removal, so guarded lots are safer in the historic centre.
Pico y Placa or serious traffic violations draw heavy fines (around USD 130-260 plus possible points), while speeding, phone use and no seatbelt are penalised; rental firms recharge camera fines to the driver's card.
Call 911 (the national ECU 911 emergency line) for police and ambulance; leave vehicles in place and wait for the transit authority, as an official report is needed for insurance, and do not admit fault on the spot.
Full driving guide for Ecuador →