Car Hire in Qatar

Driving Licence Requirements

Although a UK driving licence is valid in Qatar for 7 days, an international driving permit or temporary Qatar licence is required for longer periods. The IDP will be cheaper and simpler than applying for a short term Qatar licence (as this may require a residency permit), and may be a condition of car hire in any case.

Driving conditions and general information.

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, driving standards in Qatar are poor. All accidents must be reported to the police and you will need a police report to claim on any insurance.

As you might expect, Qatar has a zero limit when it comes to alcohol and heavy penalties for drink driving.

It is recommended that you travel in convoy and take a mobile phone and plenty of drinking water with you in case of emergencies.

It shouldn't cost too much to cover a lot of miles in Qatar. Most car hire companies include unlimited mileage and petrol costs around 15p per litre.

Most hire cars have automatic transmissions, though some manuals are available.

Car Hire Terms

Third party liability and collision damage waiver are normally included in the rental but check the terms and conditions for theft protection cover. It is not always provided in Qatar and, when it is, you cannot always reduce the excess with local insurance. Happily, many third party insurers include full CDW cover (including theft protection) within their worldwide car hire insurance policies so you can be fully covered for this as well as any damage to the tyres, windscreen, windows, underside or roof of the car.