Destinations / Egypt
Driving in Egypt as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. An IDP is commonly requested to drive in Egypt.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Egypt expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 122 (police), 123 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 100–120 km/h desert 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 | 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 EGP. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Local practice | Dense, assertive urban traffic. |
|---|---|
| Lights | Headlights used sparingly at night by locals: drive defensively. |
| Local practice | Checkpoints common between cities. |
| Documents | Carry passport, licence and IDP. |
On the road in Egypt
At the pump
Stations sell 80, 92 and 95 octane petrol plus diesel ('solar'), are attended (no self-serve) and cheap by global standards; many smaller stations are cash-only in Egyptian pounds, so do not rely on cards.
After a crash
Call 122 for police or 128 for the traffic police, and 123 for an ambulance; do not move the vehicles unless they block traffic dangerously, as a police report ('mahdar') is mandatory for any insurance claim.
Sources: rac.co.uk · sixt.co.uk · tollguru.com · dailynewsegypt.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Egypt?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. An IDP is commonly requested to drive in Egypt.
Which translation format is used for Egypt?
Egypt uses the 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Egypt ask for a translation?
Requested at rental desks; many visitors hire a driver.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Egypt?
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.