Does Sixt require an IDP in Iraq?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Iraq: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Premium European brand with a fast-growing global network.
Iraq drives on the right; an IDP is expected with your home licence, though most visitors arrange drivers given security and road conditions.
In Iraq specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Iraq ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive is rare; an IDP and passport are expected where rental exists.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Iraq desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Iraq drives on the right, uses the IQD, 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 Sixt counter in Iraq
- 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 IQD deposit; Iraq drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Iraq Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Numerous security checkpoints.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
- Drive defensively on intercity roads.
Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Minimum age is region-specific: typically 21 in the US (18 in New York, where an under-25 fee still applies) and 18 in much of continental Europe such as Germany and France; drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly USD 25-30 per day in the US (about GBP 36 per rental in the UK, around EUR 5-6 per day in markets like Cyprus), and under-25s are usually limited to economy through full-size sedans, midsize SUVs and minivans.
A credit or debit card in the main driver's name must be presented at pickup; Sixt holds a security deposit of at least USD 200 plus the rental amount on the card, with substantially higher holds on premium/high-value vehicles, and debit-card acceptance and limits vary by branch and vehicle class.
A per-rental additional-driver fee applies; extra drivers can be added at any Sixt branch during the rental provided the main driver is present and the additional driver shows a valid licence (some European markets waive the fee for a spouse/partner). The driver must typically have held a full valid licence for at least 1 year (rising to 2-3 years in higher-risk markets such as Cyprus, while Germany requires the licence be held only since at least the day before pickup).
Most Sixt passenger vehicles may be driven across borders into listed neighbouring countries (e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy within Europe), but you must notify and get authorisation from the pickup branch in advance; a cross-border and/or one-way drop-off fee applies, and certain vehicle classes and destination countries are restricted.
Sixt does not require an International Driving Permit everywhere, but states that where local law requires it the IDP must be carried alongside the original home licence; if the licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.) the renter must present an IDP or an official translation, and an official translation is also required if the issuing country is not party to the international driving-permit treaty.
Once you collect the keys in Iraq
Iraq has no nationwide electronic toll network; intercity roads are largely toll-free, though informal checkpoint stops and parking-style fees occur. Budget for fuel and security rather than tolls.
Parking in Baghdad, Erbil and Basra is informal and often managed by attendants who collect a small cash fee; secure hotel or guarded lots are strongly advised over street parking for foreign-plated or rental cars.
Traffic fines are typically issued and paid in cash to police on the spot; common citations cover speeding, seatbelt and phone use, and rental firms pass any unpaid fines or impound costs back to the renter. Night driving is discouraged for safety, not just legal, reasons.
After any crash, stop immediately, do not move the vehicles, and call police on 104 (general emergency 122); a police report is required for any insurance claim and for the rental company. Stay at the scene until officers arrive.