Does Thrifty require an IDP in Ecuador?
Thrifty in Ecuador: the policy in plain terms
Requires an IDP in select countries and for non-Roman-alphabet licences. Budget-friendly brand paired with Dollar in many markets.
Ecuador drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised with your licence for Andean and coastal driving.
In Ecuador specifically, ecuador legally requires foreign drivers to carry an International Driving Permit with their national licence, so Thrifty will ask for it at the counter. Quito and Guayaquil desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Ecuador desks, foreign renters are asked for the 1968 Vienna-format International Driving Permit alongside the original licence. Ecuador drives on the right, uses the USD, 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 Ecuador
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the USD deposit; Ecuador drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Ecuador Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Pico y placa plate restrictions in Quito.
- 0.03% alcohol limit.
- Steep Andean roads with switchbacks.