The lack of local public transportation means that a rental car may well be the best option for visiting local sights such as the Tigris River and the Gara Mountains. If you’re navigating into mountainous areas, a four-wheel drive will provide plenty of stability on steep or rough surfaces, but outside these areas, a standard two-wheel drive is usually suitable for local highways.
Navigating in Iraq can be a challenge, especially in mountainous or desert areas. Most rental agencies offer clients the option of renting an additional portable GPS unit, which usually comes with spoken instructions in English and Arabic. A small daily fee is usually charged for this service, for example, 10,700 IQD (9 USD) with Hertz.
While there are no official laws on child seat use in Iraq, it is strongly advised to restrain babies and young children in an age-appropriate child or booster seat. Most agencies are happy to provide these for an additional fee when booked in advance; for example, you can expect to pay around 147,600 IQD (40 USD) extra per day if you rent a car in Iraq with Europcar.
Car rental agencies in Iraq don’t permit cross-border travel. Police and military checkpoints are common in border areas, ensuring you can’t accidentally stray over the line. If the driver chooses to ignore this advice, companies like Hertz state that any insurance provisions are null and void. They do, however, offer to arrange one-way rentals within Iraq itself.
Book your rental car in Iraq at least 3 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Compact rental cars in Iraq are around 36% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Iraq
Compact (Class Compact Car or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Iraq.
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
While it is possible to rent a car in Iraq, this is only advised in the relatively safe area of Kurdistan (main city: Erbil). A few international rental agencies such as Hertz and Europcar operate here, and roads in the surrounding region are generally well maintained. Driving is often chaotic, and the use of hazard lights is very important to signal to other drivers when slowing down, changing lanes, or turning.
The minimum age to rent a car in Iraq is 23 for globally recognized agencies like Hertz. Drivers must have been in possession of their domestic driving license for a minimum of 2 years, and you must display both an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) and a passport to pick up a vehicle. Identifying documents must be provided in the Roman alphabet; otherwise, an official translation will be required in addition to the documents.
Petrol is relatively inexpensive in Iraq, a liter of petrol costing around 715 IQD (0.63 USD), which is about the same as 2.38 USD per gallon. Most petrol stations only take payment in cash and may operate during irregular hours. Especially when traveling outside urban areas, it is recommended to carry an extra can of fuel and to fill up whenever possible.
While speed limits do exist in Iraq, they are not often observed by other drivers or enforced by the police. In general, drivers should stick to a maximum speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) in well developed areas and 120 km/h (75 mph) on open highways. As road conditions can be poor—e.g., flooding and loose surfaces—it is always best to travel at a lower speed for safety.
The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for hire cars for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 48 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car hires listed or dates of travel. Some hire car providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the website of the respective hire car provider.