Does National require an IDP in Madagascar?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Madagascar: 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.
Madagascar drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and long distances on rough roads favour hiring a driver.
In Madagascar specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Madagascar ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Antananarivo desks request an IDP; many rentals come with a driver.
National runs a global network; at its Madagascar desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Madagascar drives on the right, uses the MGA, 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 Madagascar
- 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 MGA deposit; Madagascar drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Madagascar National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Poor roads between regions.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- 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 Madagascar
Madagascar has no toll-road or vignette system; the national 'Route Nationale' network is toll-free. Roads vary from sealed RNs to rough tracks needing a 4x4.
Urban parking, mainly in Antananarivo, is informal with no colour-coded paid zones; 'gardiens' (informal attendants) watch parked cars for a small cash tip (a few thousand ariary). Park in guarded hotel/lot spaces overnight.
Foreign drivers face on-the-spot cash penalties for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use, often negotiated at police stops; always ask for a receipt. Banditry and armed highway robbery on RN7, RN13, RN10 and others is a bigger risk than fines, so avoid driving after dark.
After an accident call police on 117 (or 119) and wait for an official report; do not move vehicles if there are injuries. Roadside assistance is essentially absent outside Antananarivo, so carry water and a spare.
Full driving guide for Madagascar →