Does Thrifty require an IDP in Qatar?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Qatar: the policy in plain terms
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Qatar drives on the right and enforces zero alcohol behind the wheel; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence.
In Qatar specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Qatar ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Doha desks request an IDP for most non-GCC licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Qatar desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Qatar drives on the right, uses the QAR, 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 Qatar
- 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 QAR deposit; Qatar drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Qatar Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol law while driving.
- Extensive speed-radar enforcement.
- Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.
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 Qatar
Qatar has no general toll roads; the only charging scheme is the Lusail electronic toll, billed automatically via tag, so a tourist normally pays nothing and any Lusail charge is passed through by the rental firm.
Paid parking zones in Doha use Karwa/Mowasalat meters and apps with marked bays; illegal parking risks heavy fines, towing or black points, so use designated mall and street zones only.
Traffic fines run from about QR 300 up to QR 6,000 for offences like speeding, phone use and no seatbelt, often camera-enforced; driving without the required IDP can mean a fine and impoundment, and rental firms pass camera fines on with a fee.
Call 999 for police and ambulance and do not move the cars until an officer attends; a police report is mandatory for any insurance claim and rental return, and you can also log the incident via the Metrash2 app.
Full driving guide for Qatar →