Destinations / Bangladesh
Driving in Bangladesh as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Bangladesh drives on the left amid dense traffic; an IDP is commonly requested for foreign drivers, though most visitors hire a car with a driver.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Bangladesh expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 999 |
| Top speed limit | 80 km/h highways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in BDT. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Local practice | Heavy, mixed urban traffic: drive defensively. |
|---|---|
| Local practice | Horn use is constant. |
| Documents | Carry passport, IDP and home licence. |
On the road in Bangladesh
At the pump
Stations sell petrol, high-octane (octane), diesel and CNG; pumps are attendant-served. Roughly USD 1.00-1.05 per litre for petrol; many rural stations are cash-only, so carry taka.
After a crash
Dial the national emergency line 999 for police and ambulance; do not move vehicles after a serious crash and wait for police, as a police report is needed for any insurance claim. Crowds can gather quickly, so in a serious incident drivers are advised to drive to the nearest police station rather than confront a mob.
Sources: tyremap.com · bd.usembassy.gov · globalpetrolprices.com · internationaldriversassociation.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Bangladesh?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Bangladesh drives on the left amid dense traffic; an IDP is commonly requested for foreign drivers, though most visitors hire a car with a driver.
Which translation format is used for Bangladesh?
Bangladesh uses the 1949 Geneva convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Bangladesh ask for a translation?
Self-drive desks ask for an IDP and passport; chauffeured hire is the norm.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Bangladesh?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Asia
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.