Destinations / Palau
Driving in Palau as a visitor
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Palau 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 Palau expects
| Permit needed | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Convention format | Local rules |
| Valid for | Not recognised |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 25 mph (40 km/h) national cap |
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 | Local rules |
| Minimum age | 21. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in USD. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Speed | Low speed limits across the islands. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.08% alcohol limit. |
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory. |
On the road in Palau
At the pump
Petrol and diesel are sold at a handful of attended (full-service) stations in Koror; pumps are calibrated in US gallons and prices are in US dollars (Palau uses the USD), typically among the higher Pacific prices due to import costs. Major cards are accepted at main stations but carry cash for outer areas.
After a crash
Dial 911 for police and ambulance (Koror police: 680-488-2423); do not move vehicles after an injury crash and wait for officers, as a police report is needed for any insurance or rental claim.
Sources: travel.state.gov · smartraveller.gov.au · ireland.ie · islandtimes.org
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Palau?
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Palau accepts foreign licences, and a permit removes any argument at the rental counter or a roadside check.
Which IDP format does Palau accept?
Palau recognises the Local rules format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Palau ask for one?
Koror desks accept many foreign licences; an IDP helps non-Latin scripts.
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.