Getting around

Driving abroad on a UK or US licence

For every country we cover: which side of the road, whether you need an International Driving Permit and which kind, how long you can drive as a visitor, swapping your licence if you move there, the drink-drive limit, and the catches.

Get your permit before you leave. Permits can only be bought in the country that issued your licence, and the hire desk is the worst place to find out you needed one. Without the right licence, your travel insurance may not pay out after an accident.

Every country at a glance

CountryDrives on theUK licenceUS licenceDrink-drive limit
PortugalLisbonRightNo permit neededLicence valid 185 days0.5 g/l
SpainBarcelona, Las PalmasRightNo permit neededPermit required0.5 g/l
HungaryBudapestRightNo permit neededPermit or translationZero
GreeceAthensRightNo permit neededPermit advised0.5 g/l
MaltaVallettaLeftNo permit neededLicence valid 12 months0.5 g/l
CroatiaSplitRightNo permit neededLicence valid 3 months0.5 g/l; zero under 24
GeorgiaTbilisiRightGet a 1968 permitCheck with your hire firmTreat as zero
United Arab EmiratesDubaiRightNo permit neededPermit advisedZero
South AfricaCape TownLeftNo permit neededNo permit if photo and English0.05 g/100 ml
ThailandBangkok, Chiang MaiLeft1968 permit requiredPermit required0.05%
MalaysiaKuala LumpurLeft1949 permit requiredPermit required50 mg/100 ml
IndonesiaBaliLeft1968 permit requiredPermit requiredDon't drink and drive
JapanTokyoLeft1949 permit required1949 permit required0.03%
MexicoMexico CityRightNo permit neededUS licence validSet by each state
ColombiaMedellínRightNo permit neededLicence validFrom 20 mg/100 ml
ArgentinaBuenos AiresRight1949 permit requiredPermit recommendedZero on national roads; 0.5 g/l in Buenos Aires city
BrazilFlorianópolisRightNo permit neededPermit after 180 daysZero
Costa RicaSanta TeresaRightNo permit neededUS licence valid0.5 g/l

Before you go

UK licence holders

  • There are three kinds of International Driving Permit (1926, 1949 and 1968), and which one you need depends on the country. Each country below says which.
  • You buy one in person at a PayPoint shop for £5.50. The 1926 and 1949 permits last 12 months; the 1968 permit lasts 3 years, or until your licence expires if sooner.
  • To get one you must live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, hold a full UK licence and be 18 or over. If you already live abroad, you can't get a UK permit.
  • You can't buy one once you've left: the UK government says so for Thailand, Japan, Malaysia and Argentina, among others. Get it before you go.
  • Carry your UK licence as well as the permit. A permit on its own is not a licence.
  • If you're moving abroad, a permit isn't the answer: exchange your licence or get a local one.
  • Hire companies may ask to see your driving record. Get a check code from GOV.UK's "View or share your driving licence" up to 21 days before you collect the car.

Sources: GOV.UK: IDP by country, GOV.UK: get an IDP, GOV.UK: driving abroad

US licence holders

  • Only two organisations are authorised by the State Department to issue International Driving Permits: AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). AAA charges $20.
  • A US permit lasts one year and can't be renewed. Get it before you travel.
  • Other websites selling "international driver's licenses" are, in USA.gov's words, often fraudulent. The State Department says permits issued via the internet or by other organisations aren't valid in Japan.
  • Brazil and Uruguay need an Inter-American Driving Permit instead; AAA issues both. A permit isn't valid in the country where you live.
  • Carry your US licence with the permit.

Sources: USA.gov: international driver's license, April 2026, State Department: driving abroad, AAA: IDPs and scams

Hiring a car

  • The excess is the most you pay if the car is damaged; cheaper deals often have a bigger one. Collision damage waivers often leave out tyres and glass.
  • You can buy standalone excess cover before you go, instead of the hire company's. The company may still take a deposit and charge you for damage, which you then claim back.
  • Photograph the car when you collect it, and make sure every mark is on the form.
  • Credit card cover varies a lot. A typical US Visa benefit is secondary, means turning down the hire company's waiver, and excludes liability, motorbikes and rentals over 31 days abroad. Read your own card's terms.
  • Minimum ages are set by each hire company, not the law: often 21, with a surcharge under 25.

Sources: CMA: hiring a car (2016), Example Visa Guide to Benefits (11/2022)

Scooters and motorbikes

  • You can only ride what your licence covers. If you couldn't legally ride it at home, your travel insurer may not pay out, however small the bike.
  • Don't assume a car licence covers a 125cc scooter abroad. Greece, for example, requires at least category A1 for mopeds and doesn't accept the UK's category P.
  • Wear a helmet. In Greece, for one, riding without one can invalidate your insurance, and it is compulsory in Thailand and Malaysia.

Sources: FCDO: Thailand, September 2026, FCDO: Greece, August 2026

Portugal

Drives on the right

Covers Lisbon.

Visiting, UK licence
No permit needed with a photocard licence, for up to 185 days.
Visiting, US licence
You can drive on a US licence for up to 185 days, as long as you aren't resident.
If you move there, UK licence
Residents can keep driving on a UK licence until it expires, or exchange it without a test.
If you move there, US licence
You can exchange it without a test. You can keep driving on it for 90 days after becoming resident; if you haven't applied by then you must stop driving. The final deadline is 2 years. You need an apostilled driving record from your state.
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l; 0.2 g/l in your first 3 years of driving.

Worth knowing

  • Some motorways are electronic-only tolls. A foreign card can be linked to the car's plate, or buy a prepaid toll card. Hire cars usually come with a tag.
  • Tolls were scrapped on several former SCUT motorways, including the A22 in the Algarve, from January 2025.

Sources: GOV.UK: living in Portugal, July 2026, US Embassy Portugal, April 2025, Portugal Tolls, Postal, January 2025, ETSC: drink-drive limits

Spain

Drives on the right

Covers Barcelona, Las Palmas.

Visiting, UK licence
No permit needed with a photocard licence, including on the Balearic and Canary Islands. Hire companies may still ask for one.
Visiting, US licence
You must have an International Driving Permit to drive or hire a car. Police can impound a hire car if you don't.
If you move there, UK licence
You can drive on a UK licence for 6 months after becoming resident, then you must exchange it. No tests, and the fee is €28.87.
If you move there, US licence
There is no exchange: after 6 months as a resident you need to pass the Spanish tests for a new licence.
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l (0.25 mg/l in breath); 0.3 g/l for drivers in their first 2 years.

Worth knowing

  • Since 1 January 2026, Spanish-registered cars, which includes hire cars, must carry a connected V-16 emergency beacon instead of warning triangles. The fine for not having one is €80.
  • No phone in your hand, even when pulled over, and no earpieces.
  • Barcelona's low-emission zone requires foreign-registered cars to be registered in advance.

Sources: GOV.UK: living in Spain, July 2026, State Department: Spain, DGT: exchange countries, June 2026, DGT: V-16 beacon, November 2025

Hungary

Drives on the right

Covers Budapest.

Visiting, UK licence
No permit needed with a photocard licence. Isle of Man licences need one.
Visiting, US licence
You need an International Driving Permit or an official translation of your licence.
If you move there, UK licence
You can drive for 12 months, then exchange it without a test.
If you move there, US licence
After a year you need a Hungarian licence. We couldn't find an official source on whether that means a test.
Drink-drive limit
Zero: you can't drink any alcohol and drive.

Worth knowing

  • Motorways need an e-vignette (e-matrica), bought before you drive on them. A 10-day car vignette is 6,900 forints in 2026. Buy it from the official site, not a reseller.
  • Dipped headlights are compulsory outside towns, even in daytime.
  • Carry a warning triangle, reflective vest and first-aid kit.

Sources: FCDO: Hungary, September 2026, GOV.UK: IDP by country, GOV.UK: living in Hungary, December 2025, State Department: Hungary, April 2026, Nemzeti Mobilfizetési: 2026 vignette prices

Greece

Drives on the right

Covers Athens.

Visiting, UK licence
No permit needed with a photocard licence, though hire companies may want one, along with a year's experience and a higher minimum age.
Visiting, US licence
Carry your US licence; insurers may also want an International Driving Permit. After 185 days you need a Greek licence.
If you move there, UK licence
After 6 months as a resident you should exchange it for a Greek licence.
If you move there, US licence
US licences can be converted once you've lived there 6 months, with a medical certificate and translation.
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l; 0.2 g/l for newer drivers.

Worth knowing

  • Mopeds need at least category A1, and the UK's category P isn't accepted.
  • Many small bike and quad hire firms carry no insurance, and many travel insurers treat quad biking as an extreme sport.
  • Helmets are compulsory on mopeds and quads, for passengers too.

Sources: FCDO: Greece, August 2026, State Department: Greece, February 2026, Mitos: converting a US licence, September 2026

Malta

Drives on the left

Covers Valletta.

Visiting, UK licence
No permit needed with a photocard licence.
Visiting, US licence
A US licence is valid for up to 12 months from your last entry.
If you move there, UK licence
After 12 months you must exchange it for a Maltese licence. No tests.
If you move there, US licence
There is no exchange: Malta only swaps EU, EEA, Swiss, UK, Australian and UAE licences.
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l; 0.2 g/l for newer drivers.

Worth knowing

  • Malta drives on the left, like the UK.
  • There are no motorway tolls.

Sources: GOV.UK: living in Malta, December 2025, Transport Malta, June 2026, State Department: Malta, July 2026

Croatia

Drives on the right

Covers Split.

Visiting, UK licence
You can drive on a photocard licence for up to a year.
Visiting, US licence
Visitors can drive on a US licence for 3 months; a permit is only valid alongside it.
If you move there, UK licence
After 12 months you must exchange it, with no test, and only once you've lived there 185 days.
If you move there, US licence
Apply for a Croatian licence at your local police station before your 12 months as a resident are up. The US Embassy's guide (2022) mentions a translation and medical certificate, not a test.
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l, and zero for drivers under 24.

Worth knowing

  • Dipped headlights are compulsory in daytime from 1 November to 31 March, and all year on scooters and motorbikes.
  • Keep the hi-vis vest inside the car, not the boot.
  • Motorway tolls are still paid at booths, by cash or card. A barrier-free system is due by 1 March 2027, but reports in September 2026 said that date may slip.

Sources: FCDO: Croatia, August 2026, GOV.UK: living in Croatia, December 2025, US Embassy Croatia (2022), Informator, December 2025, Novi list, September 2026

Georgia

Drives on the right

Covers Tbilisi.

Visiting, UK licence
The UK government's pages disagree: one says you need a 1968 permit for stays over 90 days, the travel advice says a UK licence is fine for a year. Get the permit (£5.50) to be safe.
Visiting, US licence
The US government doesn't say. Ask your hire company before you book.
If you move there, UK licence
After 12 months from your last entry you need an IDP or a Georgian licence. You can get a Georgian licence without a test if you hold a valid UK licence.
If you move there, US licence
We couldn't find an official source.
Drink-drive limit
Treat it as zero: the US government says any alcohol is illegal.

Worth knowing

  • Expect poor lighting outside cities, stray livestock and landslides; avoid driving at night outside Tbilisi.
  • There are no motorway tolls.

Sources: FCDO: Georgia, September 2026, GOV.UK: living in Georgia, December 2025, State Department: Georgia, May 2025

United Arab Emirates

Drives on the right

Covers Dubai.

Visiting, UK licence
Visitors can drive on a UK photocard licence.
Visiting, US licence
US visitors can drive on a valid state licence, but the State Department says some emirates may also want an International Driving Permit. Get one ($20) to be safe and check with your hire company.
If you move there, UK licence
Once your residence permit is issued you need a UAE licence. UK licences are on Dubai's list for exchange without a test.
If you move there, US licence
The same: once you're resident, exchange it. US licences are on Dubai's no-test list.
Drink-drive limit
Zero, and drinking and driving will likely void your insurance.

Worth knowing

  • Police can impound a car for offences that would be minor in the UK; release can cost AED 50,000 plus the fine.
  • Rude gestures or swearing at another driver can mean a fine, prison and deportation.
  • Dubai's Salik tolls are charged automatically; hire firms bill them when you return the car.

Sources: FCDO: UAE, July 2026, State Department: UAE, August 2023, Gulf News, December 2025, Dubai exchange list (third-party), September 2026

South Africa

Drives on the left

Covers Cape Town.

Visiting, UK licence
You can drive on a UK photocard licence for up to 12 months.
Visiting, US licence
A US licence is accepted if it has your photo and signature and is in English; otherwise get a permit before you fly.
If you move there, UK licence
If you become a permanent resident, exchange it within 12 months.
If you move there, US licence
We couldn't find an official source.
Drink-drive limit
0.05 g per 100 ml of blood. The government announced plans for a zero limit in January 2026; it isn't law yet.

Worth knowing

  • Carjacking and "smash and grab" are common at lights, junctions and petrol stations. Keep doors locked and bags out of sight.
  • From Cape Town airport, stay on the M3 and N2 rather than the R300.
  • Criminals sometimes pose as police using blue lights on unmarked cars.

Sources: FCDO: South Africa, July 2026, South African Consulate, Los Angeles, SAnews, January 2026

Thailand

Drives on the left

Covers Bangkok, Chiang Mai.

Visiting, UK licence
You must carry a 1968 International Driving Permit with your UK licence.
Visiting, US licence
You need an International Driving Permit to drive a car or ride a motorbike.
If you move there, UK licence
If you live there, you can apply for a Thai licence using your UK licence.
If you move there, US licence
Foreign licences can be converted with a medical certificate, proof of address and an online course.
Drink-drive limit
50 mg per 100 ml (0.05%); 20 mg for under-20s and provisional licence holders. A first offence can mean up to a year in prison and a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 baht; more for repeat offences or causing injury.

Worth knowing

  • Hire scooters in tourist areas are often unregistered and can't legally be ridden on public roads.
  • If you don't hold the right licence for the bike, your travel insurance probably won't pay out after an accident.
  • Never leave your passport as a deposit for a scooter or jet ski.

Sources: FCDO: Thailand, September 2026, State Department: Thailand, August 2026, Thai PRD: alcohol limits, September 2024, Thai PRD: foreign licences, November 2024, Nation Thailand: penalties, December 2022

Malaysia

Drives on the left

Covers Kuala Lumpur.

Visiting, UK licence
You need a 1949 International Driving Permit with your UK licence, and a new permit for each year you drive there.
Visiting, US licence
You need a permit, bought before you arrive.
If you move there, UK licence
Malaysia stopped converting foreign licences on 19 May 2025, so most residents go through the full local process. MM2H participants and diplomats are exempt.
If you move there, US licence
The same: no conversion since May 2025, except for MM2H participants and diplomats.
Drink-drive limit
50 mg per 100 ml of blood. Police breath-test regularly; penalties include prison and deportation.

Worth knowing

  • Don't leave the scene of an accident before the police arrive; if a crowd gathers, drive to the nearest police station instead.
  • Helmets are compulsory on motorbikes.

Sources: FCDO: Malaysia, March 2026, State Department: Malaysia, February 2026, Free Malaysia Today, May 2025, Malay Mail, April 2026

Indonesia

Drives on the left

Covers Bali.

Visiting, UK licence
A UK licence on its own isn't valid: you need a 1968 International Driving Permit.
Visiting, US licence
A US licence on its own isn't recognised: you need a permit.
If you move there, UK licence
With a KITAS residence permit you can apply for an Indonesian licence.
If you move there, US licence
The same route, with a KITAS.
Drink-drive limit
We couldn't find an official limit, so don't drink at all if you're driving or riding.

Worth knowing

  • Moped and motorbike accidents in Bali have risen sharply, some fatal. Wear a helmet in good condition.
  • Bali police have run crackdowns in Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu and Kuta (May 2025). Riders need a motorbike licence from home plus the permit.
  • Foreigners in even minor accidents can be targeted for money. Wait for the police and report it at a station.

Sources: FCDO: Indonesia, September 2026, State Department: Indonesia, July 2026, The New Daily, May 2025

Japan

Drives on the left

Covers Tokyo.

Visiting, UK licence
You need a 1949 International Driving Permit with your UK licence; other kinds aren't accepted. It works for one year from when you enter Japan.
Visiting, US licence
You need a permit from AAA or AATA, bought before you arrive. Permits from websites aren't valid.
If you move there, UK licence
Residents can convert a UK licence without the knowledge or driving test. Since October 2025 you need a residence record, and you must prove you spent over 90 days in the UK after getting your licence.
If you move there, US licence
Only eight states are exempt from both tests: Maryland, Washington, Hawaii, Virginia, Ohio, Oregon and Colorado, plus Indiana from the driving test only. Others take both. Since October 2025 you need a residence record.
Drink-drive limit
0.03%, about a third of the UK limit. Passengers can be arrested too if they knew the driver had been drinking.

Worth knowing

  • If you're a registered resident, a permit only works again after you've spent more than 3 months in a row outside Japan, even a new one.
  • Motorway tolls can be very high.
  • Compulsory insurance may not be enough; extra voluntary cover is common.

Sources: FCDO: Japan, August 2026, Tokyo Metropolitan Police: permits, State Department: Japan, August 2025, Tokyo Metropolitan Police: licence conversion, September 2026

Mexico

Drives on the right

Covers Mexico City.

Visiting, UK licence
You can drive on a UK photocard licence.
Visiting, US licence
US licences are valid. Mexican car insurance is required, and most US policies don't cover you there.
If you move there, UK licence
We couldn't find an official source.
If you move there, US licence
We couldn't find an official source.
Drink-drive limit
Each state sets its own. In Mexico City the limit is 0.4 mg/l of breath (0.8 g/l of blood), and drivers over it are held for 20 to 36 hours, with no option to pay a fine instead.

Worth knowing

  • Use the toll roads (cuotas, marked with a "D"): they're safer and better patrolled.
  • Mexico City limits cars by number plate on some weekdays.
  • Uninsured drivers in an accident can be arrested, whoever was at fault.

Sources: FCDO: Mexico, October 2026, State Department: Mexico, August 2026, GEICO: insurance in Mexico, August 2026, La Crónica, December 2025

Colombia

Drives on the right

Covers Medellín.

Visiting, UK licence
You can drive on a UK photocard licence. Hire firms may still want a permit.
Visiting, US licence
A foreign licence is valid for as long as your permitted stay.
If you move there, UK licence
No exchange: residents apply for a Colombian licence as first-time drivers.
If you move there, US licence
The same: you apply as a first-time driver.
Drink-drive limit
Penalties start at 20 mg per 100 ml of blood, close to zero.

Worth knowing

  • Medellín's "pico y placa" bans cars and motorbikes on certain weekdays, 5am to 8pm, by plate digit (the last digit for cars, the first for motorbikes). Check the current rota.
  • Moving your car after an accident can be treated as admitting fault.
  • Carry all the car's documents on paper, and avoid driving at night outside cities.

Sources: FCDO: Colombia, October 2026, Alcaldía de Bogotá, State Department: Colombia, August 2025, Noticias Caracol, August 2026

Argentina

Drives on the right

Covers Buenos Aires.

Visiting, UK licence
You need a 1949 International Driving Permit with your UK licence.
Visiting, US licence
You can usually drive on a US licence. A permit isn't required by law but is recommended, as police and hire firms may ask.
If you move there, UK licence
We couldn't find an official source.
If you move there, US licence
We couldn't find an official source.
Drink-drive limit
Zero on national roads since 2023. Buenos Aires city didn't adopt it: 0.5 g/l for car drivers, 0.2 g/l on motorbikes, zero for new and professional drivers. Some provinces, such as Mendoza, keep their own limits on provincial roads.

Worth knowing

  • In cities, keep windows closed and doors locked.

Sources: FCDO: Argentina, May 2026, State Department: Argentina, July 2026, Sitio Andino, May 2023

Brazil

Drives on the right

Covers Florianópolis.

Visiting, UK licence
You can drive on a UK photocard licence for 180 days.
Visiting, US licence
For stays over 180 days you need an Inter-American Driving Permit as well as your US licence.
If you move there, UK licence
After 180 days, residents get a Brazilian licence after medical and psychological checks, with no driving test.
If you move there, US licence
We couldn't confirm whether a US licence avoids the driving test.
Drink-drive limit
Zero: under the "Lei Seca" you can't drive with any measurable alcohol. Police run random checkpoints and can impound the car.

Worth knowing

  • Some roads have free-flow toll gantries with camera enforcement; hire firms usually supply a tag.

Sources: FCDO: Brazil, September 2026, State Department: Brazil, August 2026, Senatran: foreign licences

Costa Rica

Drives on the right

Covers Santa Teresa.

Visiting, UK licence
You can drive on a UK photocard licence for up to 180 days, depending on the stay you were granted.
Visiting, US licence
You need your passport and a US licence or permit.
If you move there, UK licence
Since December 2024 (Ley 10591), legal residents, and people whose residence application is pending, can swap a valid foreign licence without the road-safety course or practical test, and with no minimum stay.
If you move there, US licence
The same rules apply.
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l; 0.2 g/l for professional drivers and anyone licensed under 3 years. A new law (Ley 10860) adds drug testing and a fine for refusing a test from around March 2027.

Worth knowing

  • Right-hand-drive vehicles are illegal.
  • Central San José limits private cars on some weekdays by the plate's last digit.
  • After an accident with injuries or a dispute, don't move the car: call the traffic police and the insurer.

Sources: FCDO: Costa Rica, May 2026, State Department: Costa Rica, August 2025, Bufete de Costa Rica: Ley 10860, October 2026, Ley 10591 (Bufete de Costa Rica), December 2024

Where this comes from. The UK government's driving and travel advice pages, the US State Department and, where we could find them, each country's own licensing and traffic authorities, checked on 12 October 2026. Where official sources disagree or say nothing, the page says so, and where we've relied on a third party, it's named.

Not legal advice. Rules change and police on the spot have the final say. Check the official page linked for each country before you drive, and check your hire agreement and insurance cover.