Destinations / Lesotho
Driving in Lesotho as a visitor
Usually yes. Lesotho 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 Lesotho expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 112 or 123 (police) |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h main 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 | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| 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 LSL. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Tyres | Snow and ice on high passes in winter. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| In the car | Watch for livestock and pedestrians. |
On the road in Lesotho
At the pump
Petrol and diesel are sold in maloti (pegged to the SA rand) by attendants; as of 2026 roughly 25-26 LSL/litre petrol and ~35 LSL/litre diesel. Stations are scarce in the highlands, so fill up in Maseru or Mokhotlong before remote drives.
After a crash
Dial 123 or 124 for police (LMPS) and 121 for ambulance; do not move vehicles after an injury crash, report it to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service and get a police report for insurance.
Sources: internationaldrivingauthority.com · globalpetrolprices.com · anywhereweroam.com · lmps.org.ls
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Lesotho?
Usually yes. Lesotho 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 Lesotho accept?
Lesotho recognises the 1949 Geneva format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Lesotho ask for one?
Cars are often rented in South Africa; an IDP helps non-English drivers.
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.