Eritrea 2026: US and International Licences Not Accepted
United States
Eritrea
Only with an Eritrean driver's licence. The State Department says US and international licences may not be used. Traffic keeps right, and the alcohol limit is 0.04.
Eritrea is one of the least-driven destinations in the Horn of Africa, and the licence rule is the first surprise for Americans: neither a US licence nor an International Driving Permit lets you drive here.
The licence verdict for American drivers
The U.S. State Department’s country page says that if you wish to drive in Eritrea, you must obtain an Eritrea driver’s license — you may not use your U.S. or international driver’s license. So an IDP from AAA or AATA does not help here; the document you need is Eritrean. The same page warns that police may stop drivers at random to inspect licences, so carry the Eritrean licence and your passport whenever you drive.
No side switch — but the roads are the real story
There is no left-right switch here: Eritrea drives on the right, exactly as the United States does. Your instincts at junctions and roundabouts carry over. What does not carry over is road quality. Outside the capital, surfaces vary from good asphalt to rough gravel, mountain descents are steep, and you will share the road with pedestrians, livestock and the occasional unlit vehicle after dark. Drive to the road in front of you rather than to any sign — posted limits are inconsistently marked across the country.
A low alcohol limit and modest speeds
Eritrea sets the blood-alcohol limit at 0.04, noticeably below the US 0.08. There is no comfortable “one beer” margin, so treat it as zero before driving. On speed, the figures on record are 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on rural roads and around 100 km/h on the few highway stretches — but enforcement and signage are patchy, and the road condition usually keeps you well below those numbers anyway.
Before you set off, confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, read the country detail on our Eritrea driving guide, and if you are touring more of the region, our guide to who pays driving fines abroad is worth a look. The emergency numbers are police 113 and fire 116, but coverage is limited outside Asmara, so plan routes and fuel stops in advance.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Country Information, Eritrea (“If you wish to drive in Eritrea, you must obtain an Eritrea driver’s license. You may not use your U.S. or international driver’s license.”), last updated September 24, 2026: cadataapi.state.gov
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
No. The U.S. State Department's Eritrea page says that if you wish to drive in Eritrea you must obtain an Eritrean driver's licence, and that you may not use your US or international driver's licence. Police may stop drivers at random to inspect licences.
Yes — Eritrea drives on the right, the same as the US, so there is no side switch to relearn. The bigger adjustment is the standard of the roads outside Asmara, not the side.
Eritrea's blood-alcohol limit is 0.04, lower than the US 0.08. Treat it as a near-zero margin — one drink can put you over, so the safe rule is none before driving.