Does National require an IDP in Turkey?
National in Turkey: 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.
An IDP is recommended and often requested to rent a car in Türkiye.
In Turkey specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Turkey ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Requested for non-Latin-script and non-EU licences.
National runs a global network; at its Turkey desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Turkey drives on the right, uses the TRY, 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 Turkey
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the TRY deposit; Turkey drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Turkey National renters should know
- HGS/OGS electronic tolls on motorways and bridges.
- Headlights and seatbelts mandatory.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; zero if towing.
- Carry passport, licence and IDP.
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 Turkey
Motorways and bridges use the electronic HGS sticker-tag (OGS was retired in 2022); foreign-plated cars must have an HGS tag with sufficient balance. Rental cars come with an HGS device fitted and tolls are billed to your rental account afterward.
Cities use the municipal İSPARK paid system with signed bays paid by attendant, kiosk or app; unauthorised street parking is ticketed or towed, and hotels often provide private parking.
Speeding, mobile-phone and seatbelt fines are issued by patrol or camera; police can take on-the-spot payment and tourists often get a discount for immediate settlement. Rental firms forward camera fines to your card with an admin fee.
Call 112 (single emergency number) and, on any injury or disagreement, the traffic police (155). Do not move the vehicles until police arrive unless they block traffic dangerously; a police report ('kaza tutanagi') is needed for insurance.
Full driving guide for Turkey →