Does National require an IDP in Nigeria?
National in Nigeria: 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.
Nigeria drives on the right with heavy city traffic; an IDP is advised with your national licence, and many visitors hire a driver in Lagos.
In Nigeria specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Nigeria ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Lagos and Abuja desks request an IDP; chauffeured hire is common.
National runs a global network; at its Nigeria desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Nigeria drives on the right, uses the NGN, 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 Nigeria
- 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 NGN deposit; Nigeria drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Nigeria National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Severe congestion (go-slow) in Lagos.
- 0.05% 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 Nigeria
Federal tolling is being revived on corridors such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, while Lagos State's Lekki-Ikoyi and Admiralty Circle plazas have stayed suspended since the 2020 End SARS protests; where tolls operate, drivers pay cash or card at plazas.
Lagos and Abuja have paid on-street parking and government car parks (in Lagos managed via the LASPARK scheme); illegally parked cars risk clamping or towing by state traffic agencies like LASTMA.
FRSC issues fixed fines for speeding, phone use and no seatbelt, and may impound the vehicle for serious offences; rental firms pass camera or checkpoint fines to renters, and unofficial cash demands at stops are common.
Stop, do not leave the scene, and call the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on 122 and police on 112; obtain a police report for insurance and rental claims and photograph the scene and any damage.
Full driving guide for Nigeria →