Destinations / Ecuador
Driving in Ecuador as a visitor
Usually yes. Ecuador 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 Ecuador expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h straight highway sections |
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 | 1968 Vienna |
| 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 USD. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Local practice | Pico y placa plate restrictions in Quito. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.03% alcohol limit. |
| Roads | Steep Andean roads with switchbacks. |
On the road in Ecuador
At the pump
Stations sell Extra and Ecopais regular petrol (~USD 3.31/gal as of June 2026), Super premium (over USD 5.60/gal) and Diesel (~USD 3.25/gal); prices are in USD and are adjusted monthly under a subsidy-reform band.
After a crash
Call 911 (the national ECU 911 emergency line) for police and ambulance; leave vehicles in place and wait for the transit authority, as an official report is needed for insurance, and do not admit fault on the spot.
Sources: fastidp.com · en.wikipedia.org · primicias.ec · expatecuador.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Ecuador?
Usually yes. Ecuador 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 Ecuador accept?
Ecuador recognises the 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Ecuador ask for one?
Quito and Guayaquil desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script 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.