Destinations / Vanuatu
Driving in Vanuatu as a visitor
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu expects
| Permit needed | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Convention format | Local rules |
| Valid for | Not recognised |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 111 (police), 112 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 80 km/h open roads |
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 | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in VUV. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Roads | Unsealed roads outside Port Vila. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Animals | Watch for pedestrians and animals. |
On the road in Vanuatu
At the pump
Stations sell unleaded petrol and diesel and are concentrated in Port Vila and Luganville, becoming sparse with limited hours elsewhere, so top up before leaving town. Major-town stations take cards but carry cash as backup.
After a crash
Report any accident to the local police within 24 hours (emergency 112) and file damage with your insurer; do not move vehicles after a serious or injury crash until police attend. Keep the police report for your rental claim.
Sources: police.gov.vu · vanuatu.travel · thingstodoinvanuatu.com · internationaldriversassociation.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Vanuatu?
Not legally, but it is worth carrying. Vanuatu accepts foreign licences, and a permit removes any argument at the rental counter or a roadside check.
Which IDP format does Vanuatu accept?
Vanuatu recognises the Local rules format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Vanuatu ask for one?
Port Vila 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.