Does Thrifty require an IDP in Nigeria?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Nigeria: the policy in plain terms
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Nigeria drives on the right with heavy city traffic; an IDP is advised with your national licence, and many visitors hire a driver in Lagos.
In Nigeria specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Nigeria ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Lagos and Abuja desks request an IDP; chauffeured hire is common.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Nigeria desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Nigeria drives on the right, uses the NGN, 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 Nigeria
- 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 NGN deposit; Nigeria drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Nigeria Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Severe congestion (go-slow) in Lagos.
- 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 Nigeria
Federal tolling is being revived on corridors such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, while Lagos State's Lekki-Ikoyi and Admiralty Circle plazas have stayed suspended since the 2020 End SARS protests; where tolls operate, drivers pay cash or card at plazas.
Lagos and Abuja have paid on-street parking and government car parks (in Lagos managed via the LASPARK scheme); illegally parked cars risk clamping or towing by state traffic agencies like LASTMA.
FRSC issues fixed fines for speeding, phone use and no seatbelt, and may impound the vehicle for serious offences; rental firms pass camera or checkpoint fines to renters, and unofficial cash demands at stops are common.
Stop, do not leave the scene, and call the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on 122 and police on 112; obtain a police report for insurance and rental claims and photograph the scene and any damage.
Full driving guide for Nigeria →