Driving: the rules for travellers in 148 countries (2026 list)

📄 Paperwork before the wheel

• An International Driving Permit is required or strongly recommended in most non-European countries — get it before leaving, it cannot be issued abroad.
• A few countries do not recognise foreign licences at all and require a local one.
• Rental insurance excesses are often huge; check what a scratch actually costs you.
• Carry the vehicle papers: in many countries the driver must produce them on the spot.

⚖️ What costs the most

• Phone at the wheel and speeding are the two most fined offences for tourists, everywhere.
• Alcohol limits are often stricter than at home, and zero tolerance is common outside Europe.
• Restricted city-centre zones catch thousands of tourists a year — the fine arrives months later via the rental company.
• An accident causing injury can mean your passport is held until the case is resolved.

Which countries are strict on driving?

65 countries rate driving as banned or a serious risk for travellers: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Iceland, India, Indonesia (Bali), Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Which countries set limits on driving?

79 countries allow it under conditions (age, place, quantity, permit): Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czechia, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France….

How do I check the rules for my destination before I fly?

Open LawsTravels: pick your destination, the topic “Driving” shows the level, the thresholds and the penalties, offline. 3 topics are free on every country.