Does National require an IDP in Guinea?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Guinea: 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.
Guinea drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence, and road conditions deteriorate fast outside Conakry.
In Guinea specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Guinea ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Conakry desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
National runs a global network; at its Guinea desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Guinea drives on the right, uses the GNF, 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 Guinea
- 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 GNF deposit; Guinea drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Guinea National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Poor roads outside the capital.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
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 Guinea
Guinea has no established toll-road or vignette system for tourists; main routes out of Conakry are used without tolls, though some bridges and barriers may attract informal charges.
Parking in Conakry is informal and on-street, typically watched by attendants expecting a small Guinean-franc tip; there are no colour-coded paid zones, and the city's congested, potholed streets mean obstruction near markets risks your car being blocked in.
Foreign drivers are frequently targeted at document checkpoints; expect on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, seatbelt or phone offences and requests for informal payments, with rental firms recovering any unpaid penalties from your deposit.
Drive on the right; call the police on 117 (or gendarmerie 118/122), do not move vehicles after an injury crash and wait for police to file a report needed for any claim; beware of people posing as officials soliciting informal payments.
Full driving guide for Guinea →