Comoros by Car in 2026: Bring an IDP, Expect Rough Roads
United States
Comoros
You need an International Driving Permit to drive in Comoros, the U.S. State Department says. Traffic keeps right like home; roads are narrow and potholed, so drive slowly.
Comoros — the volcanic islands off Africa’s east coast between Mozambique and Madagascar — is not a place most American drivers plan around, which is exactly why the basics are worth getting right before you collect a vehicle in Moroni.
Start with the paperwork, because your American licence is not enough on its own. The U.S. State Department’s country page says: “You will need an international driving permit to drive in Comoros.” Get the International Driving Permit from AAA or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) before you travel and keep it with your licence and passport; there is no way to obtain one once you have arrived. The same page notes that drivers and front-seat passengers must wear seat belts.
The good news for a US visitor is the side of the road. Comoros drives on the right, exactly as you do at home, so there is no left-hand switch to unlearn — the single thing that catches most Americans driving in former British or Indian-Ocean territories simply does not apply here. Your instincts at junctions and roundabouts hold.
What does need adjusting is your expectation of the roads themselves. Posted limits run to roughly 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on rural roads and around 100 km/h on the few faster stretches, but those numbers are the ceiling, not the target. The State Department’s own advice is blunter: do not drive more than 30 miles an hour. Surfaces across Grande Comore, Mohéli and Anjouan are uneven, signage is sparse, and you will share the road with pedestrians, livestock and slow local traffic. Drive to what you can see, keep distances short between stops, and do not count on roadside help arriving quickly. The emergency numbers are police 117 and fire 113.
For the broader local rules see the Comoros driving guide, and if you want to confirm that your US licence plus an IDP covers you, run it through the Driving Permit Checker. The honest summary for an American: bring the IDP, the side of the road is familiar, and the only real discipline required is slowing down for roads that are rougher than the limits suggest.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Country Information, Comoros (“You will need an international driving permit to drive in Comoros.”), last updated January 22, 2026: cadataapi.state.gov
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Frequently Asked Questions
Only with an International Driving Permit as well. The U.S. State Department says you will need an international driving permit to drive in Comoros. Get it from AAA or AATA before you fly and keep it with your US licence and passport.
On the right, the same side as the United States. There is no side switch for an American driver, which removes the biggest hazard most US visitors face abroad.
Town driving is around 50 km/h, rural roads about 80 km/h and the limited fast roads around 100 km/h. Conditions, not signs, set your real pace — surfaces are uneven across the islands.