Destinations / Lesotho
Driving in Lesotho as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Lesotho drives on the left through high mountain passes; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and a 4x4 helps in winter.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Lesotho expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 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?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Lesotho drives on the left through high mountain passes; an IDP is advised if your licence is not in English, and a 4x4 helps in winter.
Which translation format is used for Lesotho?
Lesotho uses the 1949 Geneva convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Lesotho ask for a translation?
Cars are often rented in South Africa; an IDP helps non-English drivers.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Lesotho?
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.