Do I Need an International Driving Permit in South Africa?Rule for all foreign drivers
A foreign licence is valid if it is in an official South African language (in practice English) and carries your photo and signature. Otherwise carry an IDP or a certified translation.
- Licence alone is enough if: in English (or another official language) with photo and signature
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations (secondary source), checked 10 November 2026. Based on Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
Rule for all foreign drivers
A foreign licence is valid if it is in an official South African language (in practice English) and carries your photo and signature. Otherwise carry an IDP or a certified translation.
- Licence alone is enough if: in English (or another official language) with photo and signature
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations (secondary source), checked 10 November 2026. Based on Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
Rules for all foreign drivers in South Africa
A foreign licence is valid if it is in an official South African language (in practice English) and carries your photo and signature. Otherwise carry an IDP or a certified translation.
- Licence alone is enough if: in English (or another official language) with photo and signature
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
- How long a visitor can drive: While a visitor
Source: Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations (secondary source), checked 10 November 2026.
Based on Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
Which IDP version South Africa accepts
South Africa is a party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Convention, so both IDP formats are recognised.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 9 July 1952) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 1 November 1977) |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for South Africa
Ask for the 1968 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1968 IDP). In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
No IDP needed with a UK licence for up to 12 months. An IDP is recommended for Canadian licence holders.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed. Version mentioned: 1968 IDP.Valid for up to 12 months.Source: UK FCDO, updated 5 November 2026
US licence holdersNot covered by this source.
Canadian licence holdersIDP recommended.It is strongly recommended; insurers and rental companies often require it.Source: Government of Canada, updated 6 November 2026
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in South Africa for up 12 months.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for South Africa, updated 5 November 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
While you may drive in South Africa with your valid Canadian driver’s license, it is strongly recommended to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) in Canada before your departure, since it cannot be obtained once in South Africa. … Without an IDP, it can be extremely difficult to obtain car insurance for rentals or vehicle purchases. Insurance companies and rental car agencies often require an IDP or South African driver’s license to honour insurance claims, even if such proof was not requested when purchasing the insurance policy.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for South Africa, updated 6 November 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in South Africa with a foreign licence?
A foreign licence is valid if it is in an official South African language (in practice English) and carries your photo and signature. Otherwise carry an IDP or a certified translation. Based on Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
Do I need an IDP in South Africa if my licence is in English?
Not if your licence meets this condition: in English (or another official language) with photo and signature. Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation. Based on Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
How long can a visitor drive in South Africa?
While a visitor. Source: Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations.
Can I drive in South Africa with a 1968 IDP?
Yes. South Africa is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (acceded 1 November 1977), so a 1968 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Can I drive in South Africa with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. South Africa is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (acceded 9 July 1952), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in South Africa?
No. A UK driving licence is accepted in South Africa for up to 12 months. Source: UK FCDO, updated 5 November 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in South Africa?
Recommended, not strictly required. It is strongly recommended; insurers and rental companies often require it. Source: Government of Canada, updated 6 November 2026.
How long can I drive in South Africa with an IDP?
UK FCDO (updated 5 November 2026): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in South Africa for up 12 months.”
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in Namibia?
- Do I need an IDP in Botswana?
- Do I need an IDP in Zimbabwe?
- Do I need an IDP in Mozambique?
- How to get citizenship of South Africa
Sources and methodology
- Arrive Alive (road safety site) on Regulation 110, National Road Traffic Regulations: rules for foreign drivers in South Africa (secondary source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for South Africa. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for South Africa. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above were checked by hand against the government text on 9 November 2026. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.