Destinations / Monaco
Driving in Monaco as a visitor
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Monaco 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 Monaco expects
| Permit needed | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 50 km/h in the principality (French motorways 130) |
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 & 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 EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Parking | Strict parking enforcement. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory. |
On the road in Monaco
At the pump
There are very few filling stations inside Monaco, so most drivers refuel in nearby France (Nice, Menton, Beausoleil); pumps are self-service and card-accepting, with prices near French levels around EUR 1.80-2.00 per litre.
After a crash
Call 112 (or 17 for police, 18 for fire/rescue). Leave vehicles in place if anyone is injured and complete the European accident statement (constat amiable); a police report is needed for claims and required by rental firms.
Sources: rac.co.uk · thecarexpert.co.uk · internationaldriversassociation.com · tyremap.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Monaco?
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Monaco accepts foreign licences, and a permit removes any argument at the rental counter or a roadside check.
Which IDP format does Monaco accept?
Monaco recognises the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Monaco ask for one?
Cars are typically rented in nearby Nice; an IDP helps non-EU 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.