Destinations / Belize
Driving in Belize as a visitor
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Belize accepts foreign licences, and a permit removes any argument at the rental counter or a roadside check.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Belize expects
| Permit needed | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 55 mph 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 | Not required by law. Worth having if your licence is not printed in Latin script. |
| 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 BZD. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Speed | Speed bumps in villages along the highways. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.08% alcohol limit. |
| Roads | 4x4 useful for jungle and unpaved roads. |
On the road in Belize
At the pump
Fuel is sold by the US gallon at attendant-served stations, with regular unleaded around BZ$11 (about US$5) per gallon, premium higher and diesel slightly cheaper; major cards are accepted in towns but carry cash for rural stations.
After a crash
Call police/emergency on 911, do not move the vehicles, photograph the scene and exchange details; a police report is needed for any rental insurance claim and you should also notify the rental company promptly.
Sources: internationaldrivingpermit.org · centralamerica.com · belizehub.com · en.wikipedia.org
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Belize?
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Belize accepts foreign licences, and a permit removes any argument at the rental counter or a roadside check.
Which IDP format does Belize accept?
Belize recognises the 1949 Geneva format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Belize ask for one?
Desks accept English licences; an IDP helps non-English drivers.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.