Does Thrifty require an IDP in Bangladesh?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Bangladesh: the policy in plain terms
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Bangladesh drives on the left amid dense traffic; an IDP is commonly requested for foreign drivers, though most visitors hire a car with a driver.
In Bangladesh specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Bangladesh ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Self-drive desks ask for an IDP and passport; chauffeured hire is the norm.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Bangladesh desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Bangladesh drives on the left, uses the BDT, 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 Thrifty counter in Bangladesh
- 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 BDT deposit; Bangladesh drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Bangladesh Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Heavy, mixed urban traffic — drive defensively.
- Horn use is constant.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Thrifty's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Thrifty's published minimum rental age is 20 at most U.S. and Canada locations (18 in Michigan, New York, and Quebec); drivers aged 20-24 (or 18-24 in those exception states/province) are charged an Underage Drivers fee that varies by location, typically around $29/day and higher (roughly $35-$52) in New York and Michigan.
A valid credit/debit card in the renter's own name is required and a hold is placed for estimated charges plus roughly $200 extra for credit cards or $500 for debit (about $350 CAD in Canada); Visa/Mastercard/Discover debit cards are accepted only on Compact through Fullsize classes (not Premium and above) and a physical card must be presented as digital-wallet cards are not accepted.
Additional drivers must meet the minimum age requirement and hold a valid licence, and an additional-driver fee applies per day; it is waived for Blue Chip Rewards members, government renters on official orders, corporate-rate customers, and the companion/driver of a physically impaired customer. Thrifty's general policy requires a valid driver's licence covering the entire rental period but does not publish a fixed minimum tenure; in practice under-25 renters are typically expected to have held a full licence for at least one year.
Driving is generally restricted to the continental United States and Canada, and a Canadian resident is prohibited from driving a U.S.-owned vehicle into Canada; one-way rentals are offered within the U.S. and within Canada subject to location/availability with a one-way drop fee.
Foreign renters must present a driver's licence issued in their country of residence together with a valid passport; if the licence is not in English, Thrifty requires both the foreign licence and a current International Driver's Permit to be presented.
Once you collect the keys in Bangladesh
There is no national vignette; tolls are collected per crossing at booths on major bridges and highways such as the Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu (Jamuna) Bridge, paid in cash (taka) at the plaza, typically a few hundred taka for a car.
Dhaka has very little formal street parking; use guarded paid lots at malls and hotels, as roadside parking is heavily congested and illegally parked cars are ticketed or towed by traffic police and DNCC/DSCC authorities.
Using a hand-held phone while driving, no seatbelt and speeding draw fines under the Road Transport Act 2018; traffic sergeants issue case slips (mamla) rather than taking cash on the spot, and rental firms pass any tickets back to the renter.
Dial the national emergency line 999 for police and ambulance; do not move vehicles after a serious crash and wait for police, as a police report is needed for any insurance claim. Crowds can gather quickly, so in a serious incident drivers are advised to drive to the nearest police station rather than confront a mob.
Full driving guide for Bangladesh →