Does National require an IDP in Syria?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Syria: 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.
Syria drives on the right; an IDP is expected with your home licence, though travel conditions mean most visitors rely on arranged drivers.
In Syria specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Syria ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive is rare; an IDP and passport are expected where rental exists.
National runs a global network; at its Syria desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Syria drives on the right, uses the SYP, 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 Syria
- 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 SYP deposit; Syria drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Syria National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Numerous security checkpoints.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
- Drive defensively on intercity roads.
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 Syria
There is no modern electronic toll network; intercity highways are generally untolled, though occasional checkpoints and informal fees may be encountered, and most road payments in practice are cash in Syrian pounds.
Parking in Damascus and other cities is informal and congested, commonly on-street with attendants collecting cash; there are no standardised colour-coded paid zones, and vehicles are best left in guarded lots where available.
Traffic police levy on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, seatbelt and phone-use violations; enforcement is inconsistent and largely manual rather than camera-based, and driving without an IDP plus national licence can lead to problems at checkpoints.
After a crash you must stop and not move vehicles until authorities arrive; contact police (general emergency 112) and obtain an official report for any insurance or legal process, noting checkpoints and language barriers make documentation essential.
Full driving guide for Syria →