Does Thrifty require an IDP in Uzbekistan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Uzbekistan: 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.
Uzbekistan drives on the right under the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised to translate non-Latin-script licences for desks and police.
In Uzbekistan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Uzbekistan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Tashkent desks ask for an IDP with non-Latin-script licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Uzbekistan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Uzbekistan drives on the right, uses the UZS, 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 Uzbekistan
- 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 UZS deposit; Uzbekistan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Uzbekistan Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
- Headlights on outside cities.
- 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 Uzbekistan
Most highways are toll-free, though a few city-bypass and new express routes charge small cash tolls of a few thousand som (well under a euro); Uzbekistan is only now developing dedicated toll motorways and tunnels. There is no national vignette.
Parking in Tashkent is limited and can be costly, with paid attendant lots at malls and commercial centres collecting cash; there are no widely used colour-coded zones. Read signs carefully, as illegally parked cars are towed in central districts.
Speeding fines scale with how far over the limit you are, and police levy on-the-spot penalties for phone use and no seatbelt; insist on a receipt. Camera fines and any unpaid penalties are typically charged back through the rental company's deposit.
Dial 112 (unified emergency) or 102 for police; reporting a crash to the traffic police is mandatory and you must leave vehicles in place until officers document the scene. Get the official report for any insurance or rental claim.
Full driving guide for Uzbekistan →