Does Thrifty require an IDP in Turkey?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Turkey: 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.
An IDP is recommended and often requested to rent a car in Türkiye.
In Turkey specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Turkey ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Requested for non-Latin-script and non-EU licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Turkey desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Turkey drives on the right, uses the TRY, 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 Turkey
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the TRY deposit; Turkey drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Turkey Thrifty renters should know
- HGS/OGS electronic tolls on motorways and bridges.
- Headlights and seatbelts mandatory.
- 0.05% alcohol limit; zero if towing.
- Carry passport, licence and IDP.
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 Turkey
Motorways and bridges use the electronic HGS sticker-tag (OGS was retired in 2022); foreign-plated cars must have an HGS tag with sufficient balance. Rental cars come with an HGS device fitted and tolls are billed to your rental account afterward.
Cities use the municipal İSPARK paid system with signed bays paid by attendant, kiosk or app; unauthorised street parking is ticketed or towed, and hotels often provide private parking.
Speeding, mobile-phone and seatbelt fines are issued by patrol or camera; police can take on-the-spot payment and tourists often get a discount for immediate settlement. Rental firms forward camera fines to your card with an admin fee.
Call 112 (single emergency number) and, on any injury or disagreement, the traffic police (155). Do not move the vehicles until police arrive unless they block traffic dangerously; a police report ('kaza tutanagi') is needed for insurance.
Full driving guide for Turkey →