Destinations / Eswatini
Driving in Eswatini as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Eswatini drives on the left; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and roads are generally good between towns.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Eswatini expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 999 |
| Top speed limit | 120 km/h on the MR3 highway |
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 SZL. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| In the car | Watch for livestock on rural roads. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory. |
On the road in Eswatini
At the pump
Petrol and diesel are sold attended (no self-service), roughly E20-22 per litre; cards are usually accepted in towns but stations thin out in rural areas, so fill up before long stretches.
After a crash
Stop and do not move vehicles if there are injuries; call police on 999 (or 977 for ambulance), and any accident with injury or significant damage must be reported to the Royal Eswatini Police for a report.
Sources: tyremap.com · driverabroad.com · idp-usa.com · agribusinessmedia.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Eswatini?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Eswatini drives on the left; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and roads are generally good between towns.
Which translation format is used for Eswatini?
Eswatini 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 Eswatini ask for a translation?
Desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Eswatini?
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.