Does National require an IDP in Taiwan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Taiwan: 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.
Taiwan drives on the right and accepts the IDP for short stays; tourists should carry one with their national licence, validated locally if staying longer.
In Taiwan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Taiwan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Desks request an IDP; longer stays may need motor-vehicle office registration.
National runs a global network; at its Taiwan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Taiwan drives on the right, uses the TWD, 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 Taiwan
- 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 TWD deposit; Taiwan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Taiwan National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Scooters are everywhere — watch waiting zones at lights.
- 0.03% alcohol limit.
- Electronic (eTag) freeway tolls.
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 Taiwan
National Freeways 1, 3, 3A and 5 use distance-based eTag electronic tolling (ETC) with no cash booths; rental cars carry an eTag and the toll (first 20 km free per day, then about TWD 1.2/km) is settled and billed by the rental company.
City parking uses metered/coupon street bays and attendants who issue paper tickets you pay later (or via apps), plus paid lots; red-line curbs mean no parking/stopping and yellow lines restrict it, with towing and fines for violations.
Speed, red-light and lane cameras issue tickets passed to the rental firm and on to the hirer; fines apply for speeding, no seatbelt and handheld phone use, and Taiwan enforces strict drink-driving limits with heavy penalties.
Stop, photograph the vehicles and scene, and call 110 for police (or 119 for fire/ambulance if injuries); obtain the police accident report and notify the rental agency, as the report is required for insurance.
Full driving guide for Taiwan →