Destinations / Brunei
Driving in Brunei as a visitor
Usually yes. Brunei expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
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 Brunei expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 993 (police), 991 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 100 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 | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| 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 BND. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Alcohol | Zero alcohol tolerance. |
|---|---|
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory. |
| Fuel | Fuel is cheap but resold to foreigners at higher rates. |
On the road in Brunei
At the pump
Stations sell heavily subsidised petrol (RON 92/95) and diesel and are attendant-served; fuel is among the world's cheapest at roughly B$0.53 per litre for premium petrol, but foreign-plated vehicles face refuelling restrictions, and some rural pumps are cash-only.
After a crash
Call 993 for police; do not leave the scene of a road accident until officers attend, as a police report is mandatory for insurance and any injury claim. Ambulance is 991.
Sources: tyremap.com · gov.uk · internationaldriversassociation.com · internationaldrivingpermit.org
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Brunei?
Usually yes. Brunei expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Brunei accept?
Brunei recognises the 1949 Geneva format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Brunei ask for one?
Bandar Seri Begawan desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
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.