Does Thrifty require an IDP in Madagascar?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Madagascar: the policy in plain terms
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Madagascar drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and long distances on rough roads favour hiring a driver.
In Madagascar specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Madagascar ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Antananarivo desks request an IDP; many rentals come with a driver.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Madagascar desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Madagascar drives on the right, uses the MGA, 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 Madagascar
- 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 MGA deposit; Madagascar drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Madagascar Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Poor roads between regions.
- 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 Madagascar
Madagascar has no toll-road or vignette system; the national 'Route Nationale' network is toll-free. Roads vary from sealed RNs to rough tracks needing a 4x4.
Urban parking, mainly in Antananarivo, is informal with no colour-coded paid zones; 'gardiens' (informal attendants) watch parked cars for a small cash tip (a few thousand ariary). Park in guarded hotel/lot spaces overnight.
Foreign drivers face on-the-spot cash penalties for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use, often negotiated at police stops; always ask for a receipt. Banditry and armed highway robbery on RN7, RN13, RN10 and others is a bigger risk than fines, so avoid driving after dark.
After an accident call police on 117 (or 119) and wait for an official report; do not move vehicles if there are injuries. Roadside assistance is essentially absent outside Antananarivo, so carry water and a spare.
Full driving guide for Madagascar →