Does National require an IDP in Eswatini?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Eswatini: 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.
Eswatini drives on the left; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and roads are generally good between towns.
In Eswatini specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Eswatini ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
National runs a global network; at its Eswatini desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Eswatini drives on the left, uses the SZL, 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 Eswatini
- 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 SZL deposit; Eswatini drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Eswatini National renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Watch for livestock on rural roads.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
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 Eswatini
Eswatini has no toll roads, vignette or e-toll system, so tourists pay no road tolls.
Mbabane and Manzini use metered/attended pay-and-display street parking enforced by marshals during business hours; pay the attendant or meter and use guarded lots to avoid clamping.
The drink-drive limit is 0.05% and strictly enforced; speeding (limits 60 urban / 80 rural / 120 highway km/h), seatbelt and hand-held phone offences draw fines, sometimes on-the-spot, which rental firms pass to your card.
Stop and do not move vehicles if there are injuries; call police on 999 (or 977 for ambulance), and any accident with injury or significant damage must be reported to the Royal Eswatini Police for a report.
Full driving guide for Eswatini →