Does National require an IDP in Lesotho?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Lesotho: 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.
Lesotho drives on the left through high mountain passes; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and a 4x4 helps in winter.
In Lesotho specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Lesotho ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Cars are often rented in South Africa; an IDP helps non-English drivers.
National runs a global network; at its Lesotho desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Lesotho drives on the left, uses the LSL, 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 Lesotho
- 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 LSL deposit; Lesotho drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Lesotho National renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Snow and ice on high passes in winter.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Watch for livestock and pedestrians.
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 Lesotho
Lesotho has no motorway toll or vignette system; there is no charge to use the road network itself, though you pay standard border-post and road-fund fees when bringing a South African rental in via gates such as Maseru Bridge.
Maseru uses attendant-managed and some metered street parking where marshals collect a small maloti fee; park in designated bays as illegal parking can be ticketed, and secure off-street parking is advised overnight.
Speed limits are 50 km/h urban, 80 km/h open road and up to 120 km/h on the few highways; speeding, phone and seatbelt offences bring fines (often payable to police), with steeper penalties for serious breaches.
Dial 123 or 124 for police (LMPS) and 121 for ambulance; do not move vehicles after an injury crash, report it to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service and get a police report for insurance.
Full driving guide for Lesotho →