Does Thrifty require an IDP in Egypt?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Egypt: 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.
An IDP is commonly requested to drive in Egypt.
In Egypt specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Egypt ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Requested at rental desks; many visitors hire a driver.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Egypt desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Egypt drives on the right, uses the EGP, 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 Egypt
- 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 EGP deposit; Egypt drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Egypt Thrifty renters should know
- Dense, assertive urban traffic.
- Headlights used sparingly at night by locals — drive defensively.
- Checkpoints common between cities.
- Carry passport, licence and IDP.
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 Egypt
Major intercity roads (Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo-Suez, Cairo-Ain Sokhna, the Regional Ring Road) are tolled via overhead ANPR cameras and a smart electronic system, with cash booths still in use; tourists in rentals normally just pay the small cash toll at the gate.
In central Cairo parking is chaotic and largely informal, with 'sayes' (freelance attendants) directing cars and expecting a few pounds; illegally parked or obstructing vehicles can be ticketed or have plates removed by traffic police.
Under the 2025/26 tightened traffic law, speeding and lane violations carry fines of roughly EGP 2,000-10,000; seatbelt and handheld-phone offences are enforced, and radar cameras issue plate-based fines that rental companies later charge to your card.
Call 122 for police or 128 for the traffic police, and 123 for an ambulance; do not move the vehicles unless they block traffic dangerously, as a police report ('mahdar') is mandatory for any insurance claim.
Full driving guide for Egypt →