Does National require an IDP in Liechtenstein?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Liechtenstein: 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.
This Alpine principality drives on the right and shares Switzerland's strict rules; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and a Swiss motorway vignette applies on through routes.
In Liechtenstein specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Liechtenstein 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 usually rented in Switzerland or Austria; an IDP helps non-EU drivers.
National runs a global network; at its Liechtenstein desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Liechtenstein drives on the right, uses the CHF, 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 Liechtenstein
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the CHF deposit; Liechtenstein drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Liechtenstein National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Headlights on at all times.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.01% for new drivers.
- Swiss vignette for connecting motorways.
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 Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein has no toll roads or vignette of its own, so driving inside the country is free; however you almost always arrive via Switzerland (CHF 40 annual motorway vignette) or Austria (digital vignette), so check your rental already carries the relevant sticker.
Vaduz parking is colour-coded: white zones are paid pay-and-display (or free where marked), and blue/red zones allow limited free parking only with a parking disc obtainable from police stations, banks and tourist offices.
Speed and traffic enforcement mirrors Switzerland and is strict: fines rise steeply with speed and exceeding the urban limit by 26 km/h (or 31 km/h outside towns) after tolerance triggers licence withdrawal. Camera fines are forwarded to the renter by the rental company.
Dial 112 (or police 117, ambulance 144) for any injury accident; for minor damage-only cases exchange details on a European Accident Statement and notify the rental firm, and do not move vehicles after an injury crash until police attend.
Full driving guide for Liechtenstein →