Destinations / Tanzania
Driving in Tanzania as a visitor
Usually yes. Tanzania expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
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 Tanzania expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 112 or 999 |
| Top speed limit | 110 km/h highways |
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 | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| 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 TZS. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Animals | Wildlife and pedestrians on roads. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.08% alcohol limit. |
| Speed | Police speed checks are routine. |
On the road in Tanzania
At the pump
Petrol and diesel are widely sold in cities (around USD 1.20 per litre in early 2025) but stations thin out on rural and safari routes; fill up before long drives and carry cash, as card acceptance is unreliable.
After a crash
Stop and remain at the scene; call police (general emergency 112, or 111/115) and obtain a police report, which is required for insurance and for the rental company. Do not move vehicles where there are injuries.
Sources: carrentaltz.com · automag.tz · zanzibartanzania.co.tz · idp-usa.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Tanzania?
Usually yes. Tanzania expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Tanzania accept?
Tanzania recognises the 1949 Geneva format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Tanzania ask for one?
Dar es Salaam and Arusha desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
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.