Does National require an IDP in Oman?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Oman: 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.
Oman drives on the right and accepts the 1949 Geneva IDP; tourists should carry it with their national licence to rent a car.
In Oman specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Oman ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Muscat desks request an IDP for most non-GCC licences.
National runs a global network; at its Oman desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Oman drives on the right, uses the OMR, 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 Oman
- 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 OMR deposit; Oman drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Oman National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol law for driving.
- Speed cameras and radar widespread.
- 4x4 recommended for desert and wadi routes.
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 Oman
Oman has no highway toll roads or toll-tags; major routes including the Muscat Expressway and the Nizwa and Sur highways are free to use. The only motoring charges a tourist meets are fuel, parking and any fines.
Central Muscat (Ruwi, Muttrah, CBD) uses paid on-street parking via roadside machines and the mobile apps mwqf/Mawqif, roughly 100 baisa per 30 minutes during enforced hours, free on Fridays and evenings. Parking on yellow-hatched lines or blocking traffic risks fines and towing.
Fines start around RO 10 and rise in RO 5 steps; speeding bands run from RO 10 up to RO 50 with black points, and there is a strict 0.00% drink-drive limit with jail risk. Camera fines accrue to the plate and are billed to the renter through the rental firm, often with an admin fee, before you leave the country.
Dial 9999 for police, ambulance or fire; for injury or disputed-fault crashes do not move the vehicles and wait for the Royal Oman Police, as moving can imply admission of guilt. For minor vehicle-only crashes where both agree on fault, you must move off the road and complete the ROP Simple/Minor Road Traffic Accident form (kept in the car) for insurance.