Destinations / Honduras
Driving in Honduras as a visitor
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Honduras accepts foreign licences, and a permit removes any argument at the rental counter or a roadside check.
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 Honduras expects
| Permit needed | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 80 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 | Not required by law. Worth having if your licence is not printed in Latin script. |
| 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 HNL. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| After dark | Avoid night driving on rural roads. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.07% alcohol limit. |
| Documents | Carry passport and home licence. |
On the road in Honduras
At the pump
Stations sell gasolina (regular and super) and diesel, are attendant-served, and major-brand stations in cities accept cards though rural ones are cash-only; keep the tank above half in remote areas where stations are sparse.
After a crash
Do not move the vehicles until the transit police (Policia de Transito) arrive and issue a report; call 911 for police and ambulance. The police report is required for any insurance or rental-company claim.
Sources: rhinocarhire.com · adcidl.com · tyremap.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Honduras?
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Honduras accepts foreign licences, and a permit removes any argument at the rental counter or a roadside check.
Which IDP format does Honduras accept?
Honduras recognises the 1949 Geneva format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Honduras ask for one?
Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula desks accept many licences; an IDP helps.
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.