Does National require an IDP in Kyrgyzstan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Kyrgyzstan: 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.
Kyrgyzstan drives on the right and uses Cyrillic; an IDP is advised with your licence for its scenic but demanding mountain roads.
In Kyrgyzstan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Kyrgyzstan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Bishkek desks ask for an IDP with non-Cyrillic licences; 4x4 advised for passes.
National runs a global network; at its Kyrgyzstan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Kyrgyzstan drives on the right, uses the KGS, 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 Kyrgyzstan
- 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 KGS deposit; Kyrgyzstan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Kyrgyzstan National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
- High mountain passes with rough surfaces.
- 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 Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan has no nationwide toll-road or vignette system; the main Bishkek-Osh and tourist mountain routes are free, so a tourist pays nothing beyond fuel for road use.
Bishkek has paid on-street parking zones marked with blue signs where a small fee (around 30-50 som) is collected by an attendant or via app; parking on pavements or near junctions risks fines and informal towing, and unofficial 'parking minders' commonly expect a few som.
Speeding fines typically run 1,000-5,500 som and phone-use or no-seatbelt fines a few thousand som, often issued on the spot in cash by patrol police; rental firms pass on any speed-camera tickets by charging the card on file plus an admin fee.
Call 102 for police (or the unified 112 emergency line); for any crash with injuries or significant damage you must not move the vehicles and must wait for traffic police to document the scene, while minor no-injury collisions can be settled by exchanging details and a written report.
Full driving guide for Kyrgyzstan →