Does National require an IDP in Kosovo?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Kosovo: 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.
Kosovo drives on the right; an IDP is advised with your licence, and visitors must buy local third-party insurance at the border.
In Kosovo specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Kosovo ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Pristina desks ask for an IDP; border insurance is compulsory.
National runs a global network; at its Kosovo desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Kosovo drives on the right, uses the EUR, 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 Kosovo
- 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 EUR deposit; Kosovo drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Kosovo National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Headlights on day and night.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Buy border vehicle insurance on entry.
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 Kosovo
Most roads are free, but the R7 motorway linking Kosovo to Albania is tolled; pay in cash or card at toll plazas. Note Kosovo is outside the Green Card system, so border third-party insurance must be bought on entry.
Paid parking is normal in central Pristina via kerbside attendants and machines; vehicles parked illegally or causing obstruction can be towed.
There are generally no cash on-the-spot fines; police issue a ticket stating the offence and where to pay, and camera/ticketed fines on a rental are billed to the hirer.
Stop at the scene and call the police for any property damage or injury (even single-vehicle); a police report is required and you must not leave before it is taken, then notify the border-insurance provider.
Full driving guide for Kosovo →