Destinations / Brunei
Driving in Brunei as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Brunei drives on the left; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence, and the sultanate enforces zero alcohol.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Brunei 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 | 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 | 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 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?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Brunei drives on the left; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence, and the sultanate enforces zero alcohol.
Which translation format is used for Brunei?
Brunei 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 Brunei ask for a translation?
Bandar Seri Begawan desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Brunei?
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.