Does Thrifty require an IDP in Palestine?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Palestine: 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.
The Palestinian territories drive on the right; an IDP is advised with your licence, and routes cross Israeli checkpoints that affect travel.
In Palestine specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Palestine ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Rental is usually arranged via Israeli or local desks; carry an IDP and passport.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Palestine desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. Palestine drives on the right, uses the ILS, 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 Palestine
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the ILS deposit; Palestine drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Palestine Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Checkpoints affect routes and timing.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- 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 Palestine
There are no toll roads or vignette system in the West Bank; main highways (including Route 60 and 443) are toll-free.
Paid street parking in Ramallah, Bethlehem and Nablus is marked and cheap, often collected by attendants or meters; in dense old-city cores parking is scarce, so use municipal lots to avoid towing.
Speeding, phone use and no-seatbelt fines are issued on the spot by Palestinian or Israeli traffic police depending on the road; rental firms pass on tickets plus an admin fee, and unpaid fines can complicate vehicle return.
Call Palestinian police on 100 (or Israeli police 100 on Israeli-administered highways) and do not move vehicles until documented; a police report is required for any insurance claim, and an Israeli rental car taken into PA-controlled cities is usually uninsured, leaving you liable for all damage.
Full driving guide for Palestine →