Destinations / Cape Verde
Driving in Cape Verde as a visitor
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. This Atlantic island nation drives on the right; visitors can often use a national licence for short stays, with an IDP advised for non-Latin scripts.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Cape Verde expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 132 (police), 130 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 90 km/h open roads |
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 CVE. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Roads | Steep, cobbled island roads. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory. |
On the road in Cape Verde
At the pump
Petrol (gasolina) costs roughly USD 1.40-1.60 per litre and diesel (gasoleo) about USD 1.10-1.30 (2026). Stations are self-service and staffed; cash in escudos is the norm, with cards accepted at some urban stations, and pumps are sparse on the smaller islands.
After a crash
Call police on 132 (national emergency 112; ambulance 130); a police report is needed for insurance. Do not move the vehicles before police attend if there are injuries, and exchange details with the other driver.
Sources: esim.holafly.com · globalpetrolprices.com · caboverdeexpert.com · caboverdeexpert.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Cape Verde?
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. This Atlantic island nation drives on the right; visitors can often use a national licence for short stays, with an IDP advised for non-Latin scripts.
Which translation format is used for Cape Verde?
Cape Verde 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 Cape Verde ask for a translation?
Island desks recommend an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Cape Verde?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Africa
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.