Does Thrifty require an IDP in Ghana?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Ghana: 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.
Ghana drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised with your national licence for Accra's busy roads.
In Ghana specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Ghana ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Accra desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Ghana desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Ghana drives on the right, uses the GHS, 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 Ghana
- 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 GHS deposit; Ghana drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Ghana Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Heavy urban congestion in Accra.
- 0.08% 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 Ghana
Ghana abolished all road and bridge tolls in the 2022 budget (effective late 2021), so there are currently no toll booths or passes to buy on public roads.
Central Accra parking is largely on-street and informal, with car-park boys and private lots charging a few cedis; congestion, double-parking and obstruction around markets like Makola can lead to clamping or removal, so prefer guarded hotel or mall car parks.
Police checkpoints are frequent and foreign drivers are stopped for document checks; on-the-spot fines (often cash) apply for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, and rental companies pass any camera or unpaid fines on to the renter.
Drive on the right; call the Police on 191 or the national emergency line 112, do not move vehicles after an injury crash, and get a police report, which is mandatory for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Ghana →