Does Thrifty require an IDP in Cambodia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Cambodia: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation in select countries and for non-Roman-alphabet licences. Budget-friendly brand paired with Dollar in many markets.
Cambodia drives on the right; an IDP is commonly requested for foreign drivers, and traffic in Phnom Penh is chaotic and best approached cautiously.
In Cambodia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Cambodia 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; many tourists hire a driver or tuk-tuk.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Cambodia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Cambodia drives on the right, uses the KHR, 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 Cambodia
- 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 KHR deposit; Cambodia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Cambodia Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Helmets mandatory for motorbikes.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- 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 Cambodia
National Road tolls and the country's first expressway, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, use distance-based tolls (about USD 12 each way for a car), paid in cash, by ANPR plate-billing, or via an ETC on-board unit topped up through local banking apps.
In Phnom Penh park in guarded paid lots at malls and markets, where attendants give a ticket and may chock motorbikes; street parking is informal and congested, and illegally parked cars risk clamping or removal by district authorities.
Speeding (the leading crash cause), no seatbelt/helmet and phone use draw fines that traffic police frequently collect on the spot in cash; enforcement and amounts vary, and fines were even temporarily suspended in 2025 amid fuel-price pressure.
Dial 112 (or 117/119 for police/ambulance); do not move vehicles after a serious crash and wait for traffic police, as a report is needed and at-fault foreign drivers are often expected to negotiate on-the-spot compensation.
Full driving guide for Cambodia →