Does National require an IDP in Turkmenistan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Turkmenistan: 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.
Turkmenistan drives on the right; an IDP is advised with your licence, though tourists usually travel on guided tours with arranged transport.
In Turkmenistan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Turkmenistan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Independent rental is uncommon; an IDP and passport are expected where available.
National runs a global network; at its Turkmenistan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Turkmenistan drives on the right, uses the TMT, 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 Turkmenistan
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the TMT deposit; Turkmenistan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Turkmenistan National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
- Checkpoints between regions.
- 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 Turkmenistan
There is no public toll or vignette system on Turkmenistan's roads; the new Ashgabat-Turkmenabat motorway is the main controlled-access highway. Foreign-registered vehicles entering the country instead pay border fees, fuel taxes and compulsory-insurance charges in hard currency.
Parking in central Ashgabat is tightly controlled around its white-marble government district, where stopping near ministries and monuments is restricted and enforced by abundant traffic police; use designated lots and avoid photographing official buildings while parked.
Traffic police are numerous and stop drivers readily; on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, seatbelt and phone offences are common, and a dirty or non-white car in Ashgabat can itself draw a fine. Always request an official receipt.
Call 03 for ambulance and the traffic police (102) for any crash; reporting is mandatory, you must not move the vehicles until police document the scene, and foreigners should expect detailed paperwork. Retain the official report for insurance.
Full driving guide for Turkmenistan →