Does National require an IDP in Georgia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Georgia: 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.
Georgia drives on the right under the 1968 Vienna Convention and uses its own script, so an IDP is advised to translate your licence.
In Georgia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Georgia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Tbilisi desks ask for an IDP with non-Latin-script licences.
National runs a global network; at its Georgia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Georgia drives on the right, uses the GEL, 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 Georgia
- 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 GEL deposit; Georgia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Georgia National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Headlights on at all times.
- 0.03% alcohol limit.
- Assertive driving on mountain roads.
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 Georgia
Georgia has no toll roads, vignettes or road taxes on any main tourist route, so foreign-registered and rental cars drive the national highways toll-free. Budget only for fuel and parking.
Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Gori run paid zones requiring payment via municipal app (Tbilisi Parking), website or pay-box, with a 50 GEL fine for unpaid parking; passes range from a 20 GEL daily up to 800 GEL annual. Read signs carefully, as cars in prohibited spots are towed.
Speed cameras are widespread and fines are issued by plate (e.g. roughly 50 GEL for moderate speeding, up to 200 GEL for over 50 km/h above the limit), plus fines for phone use and no seatbelt; rental firms forward camera fines to the renter. Most fines are paid online or at banks, not cash on the spot.
Dial 112 for police and ambulance; do not move the vehicles and wait for the patrol police to attend and produce a report, which the rental company and insurer will require. A police report is effectively mandatory for any claim.
Full driving guide for Georgia →