Does National require an IDP in Togo?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Togo: 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.
Togo drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and motorbike taxis dominate Lomé's streets.
In Togo specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Togo ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Lomé desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
National runs a global network; at its Togo desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Togo drives on the right, uses the XOF, 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 Togo
- 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 XOF deposit; Togo drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Togo National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for motorbike taxis (zémidjans).
- 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 Togo
Togo operates a small number of cash toll booths on main highways (notably the RN1/coastal corridor), with charges of roughly XOF 300 (about USD 0.50); pay in CFA francs cash at the barrier.
Lomé has no app-based or colour-zone parking system; parking is informal kerbside, frequently overseen by attendants who expect a small CFA-franc tip, and drivers should avoid blocking the busy boulevards.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants and the blood-alcohol limit is 0.08%; enforcement is mainly at police checkpoints with on-the-spot cash fines, and rental firms pass on any penalties to the hirer.
Stop and stay at the scene; call the police on 117 (fire 118, ambulance 8200), and do not move vehicles if anyone is injured, as a police report is needed for any insurance claim.