Benin on a UK Licence 2026: 1968 IDP Required in the Car
United Kingdom
Benin
Yes, if you also carry an international driving permit. GOV.UK says UK drivers in Benin need the correct IDP, listed as the 1968 version, plus the UK licence in the car. Traffic keeps right.
Flying into Cotonou with a UK photocard? Your licence is valid, but it is not enough on its own. Benin wants a second document, and the side of the road changes too.
The licence position
GOV.UK’s travel advice for Benin is direct: “You’ll need to have both the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car.” The GOV.UK table of permit types lists the 1968 IDP for Benin. So the permit is required, not optional. Buy it in the UK before travelling, because it cannot be issued abroad. Keep it in the car with the licence and your passport, since police set up temporary roadblocks to check vehicles.
Right-hand traffic
The UK drives on the left and Benin on the right. The danger is in small moments: pulling out of a petrol station, a roundabout that turns the other way, a glance in the wrong direction at a junction. Spend your first hour away from Cotonou’s busiest streets.
Road conditions
GOV.UK describes driving standards and road conditions as poor. It advises against driving outside towns at night because roads are poorly lit, warns of flooding in the rainy seasons and notes common fuel shortages in rural northern Benin. Fill up whenever you can and download offline maps before leaving the coast.
Emergency numbers
Police 117; fire and ambulance 118. GOV.UK warns that emergency response is very limited, so ask locally where to get help in the area you are visiting.
For more detail see the Benin driving guide. The Driving Permit Checker covers neighbouring countries, and who pays driving fines abroad explains how penalties follow a hire car.
Sources
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Benin, safety and security (IDP, road conditions): https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/benin/safety-and-security
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Benin, getting help (emergency numbers): https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/benin/getting-help
- GOV.UK, international driving permit table (Benin: 1968): https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
Renting a Car?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
More Free Tools
Explore TyreMap
Frequently Asked Questions
Only together with an international driving permit. GOV.UK says you need both the correct version of the IDP and your UK driving licence with you in the car, and its IDP table lists the 1968 version for Benin.
No. The IDP is issued in the UK, so get the 1968 version before you fly and keep it with your photocard licence and passport.
The right, the opposite of the UK. The first day is the riskiest, especially at junctions, fuel-station exits and roundabouts.