Destinations / Monaco
Driving in Monaco as a visitor
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. The principality drives on the right and most visitors arrive on an EU licence; an IDP is rarely required but useful for non-Latin-script holders.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Monaco expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| 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 | 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 & 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?
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. The principality drives on the right and most visitors arrive on an EU licence; an IDP is rarely required but useful for non-Latin-script holders.
Which translation format is used for Monaco?
Monaco uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Monaco ask for a translation?
Cars are typically rented in nearby Nice; an IDP helps non-EU drivers.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Monaco?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.