Does National require an IDP in Japan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Japan: 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.
Japan accepts only the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP issued in your country of residence, and certain nationalities need an official JAF translation instead; our certified translation is not a substitute for the government-issued permit Japan requires.
In Japan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Japan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. A 1949 Geneva IDP issued in your home country is expected; French, German, Swiss, Belgian, Taiwanese, Monégasque, Slovenian and Estonian licences need a JAF translation.
National runs a global network; at its Japan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Japan drives on the left, uses the JPY, 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 Japan
- 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 JPY deposit; Japan drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Japan National renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol law — severe penalties.
- Stop fully at all railway crossings.
- Expressway tolls via ETC or cash.
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 Japan
Expressways (NEXCO) are extensively tolled and expensive (Tokyo-Osaka is well over 10,000 JPY); pay cash at booths or rent an ETC card from the rental firm (about 300-550 JPY) for the pre-installed ETC reader to use automatic green-lit gates and discounts.
On-street parking is largely banned; use coin/'times' lots that lock the tyre until you pay at the machine, with rates from a few hundred yen per 30-60 minutes. Residents need a proof-of-parking 'shako shomei' certificate, but tourists simply use paid garages and must never leave a car at the kerb.
Speeding fines run from about 9,000-15,000+ JPY (and criminal charges for large excesses), mobile-phone use and no-seatbelt are fined, and the drink-drive limit is a very strict 0.03% with severe penalties for driver and even passengers. Camera/parking fines are billed to the renter; minor on-the-spot fines are paid at a bank, not in cash to police.
Call 110 for police and 119 for ambulance/fire; reporting every accident to police is legally mandatory and you cannot get an insurance certificate without it. Do not leave the scene and do not privately settle injuries - move the car off the carriageway only if safe, then wait for police.
Full driving guide for Japan →