Destinations / Panama
Driving in Panama as a visitor
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Panama 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 Panama expects
| Permit needed | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h on the Pan-American Highway |
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 |
| 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 PAB. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| City zones | Heavy congestion in Panama City. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Tolls | Corredor toll expressways in the capital. |
On the road in Panama
At the pump
Fuel is sold by the GALLON (not litre) in US dollars, in grades 91/95 gasolina and diesel; stations are widely attendant-served, accept cards in cities, and the US dollar is the cash currency.
After a crash
Do not move the vehicles until the Transito police arrive and document the scene; dial 911 for police and ambulance. The transit (parte) report is required for insurance and rental claims.
Sources: tollguru.com · kraemerlaw.com · thelostandfoundhostel.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Panama?
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Panama accepts foreign licences, and a permit removes any argument at the rental counter or a roadside check.
Which IDP format does Panama accept?
Panama recognises the 1949 Geneva format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Panama ask for one?
Panama City desks accept many 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.