Can an American Drive in Fiji? — Yes, but You Switch to the Left

Fiji keeps to the left, and for an American driver that single fact outweighs the paperwork. The roads are quiet once you leave Nadi and Suva, but the State Department’s advice is blunt about what condition they are in.

Which side, and what it does to your habits

The State Department’s Fiji page begins its road section with one sentence: traffic moves on the left. You sit on the right of the car, and at roundabouts you give way to vehicles on the right. Your instinct to look left at a junction now points toward the side where traffic will not arrive for a moment. The first hour is where mistakes happen, especially pulling out of a car park or a resort driveway when muscle memory takes over.

Take that first hour somewhere quiet. Say the rule aloud (“stay left, look right”) and keep the passenger beside you in the loop if you have one.

What the State Department says about the roads

Most roads in urban areas are paved, it says, but they are poorly maintained, and roads outside the city are usually not paved. In the city, be especially attentive after dark. Outside the city, it is best to avoid driving after dark except in an emergency or exceptional circumstances, because insufficient lighting, stray animals and potholes make driving dangerous and particularly hazardous at night.

Two more points are specific. Cyclists have no separate lane, so give riders room on the road. And the State Department advises avoiding minivans and public buses, citing multiple recent reports of buses catching fire or having severe accidents. A rental car, a taxi from a reputable firm or a resort transfer is the safer choice.

The permit question

The State Department’s page does not set a licence rule for visitors, so the permit advice comes from other governments. Canada’s travel advice says to carry an International Driving Permit in Fiji, and the UK government’s permit table lists the 1949 model. The US and Fiji are both parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention, and the permit issued in the US follows that model. The State Department authorises only AAA and AATA to issue it, so arrange it before you fly and carry it with your licence and passport. If you are planning a wider trip, the Driving Permit Checker lists the rule for other countries.

Turns and roundabouts, mirrored

Left-hand traffic reverses the logic of every turn. A left turn is the short, easy one, into the nearest lane. A right turn crosses oncoming traffic and takes the same care you would give to a left turn in the US. At roundabouts you travel clockwise and give way to the right. If you arrive at a junction unsure, stop and think instead of following the habit of a lifetime. Many visitors find the windscreen wipers and indicators swapped on a right-hand-drive car, which produces a few comic moments on day one.

Parking is the other trap. On a quiet road it is easy to pull up facing the wrong way against the kerb, so check which way the cars around you are pointing before you stop.

Alcohol and phones

Driving while intoxicated is illegal in Fiji, according to the State Department, and Canada describes a zero-tolerance policy on drinking and driving. Treat a drink as the end of your driving for the day. Using a mobile phone while driving is also illegal, so put the phone in a holder or the glovebox before you move.

Practical rules for the first days

• Pick the car up in daylight and plan to be back before dark.
• Stick to main roads; unpaved roads outside town deserve a slow pace and a high-clearance vehicle if the rental company offers one.
• Watch for animals on the road, particularly at dusk and on unlit stretches.
• Keep your windows up and valuables out of sight when you park.

Emergency numbers

The emergency number is 911, the same as at home. The police have their own line, 917. Put both in your phone before you leave the rental lot. For local conditions island by island, see the Fiji driving guide.

Sources

• U.S. Department of State, Country Information, Fiji (traffic on the left; poorly maintained roads; unpaved roads outside the city; night driving and stray animals; drink-driving and phone laws; no cycle lanes; avoid minivans and public buses), last updated January 21, 2025: cadataapi.state.gov
• Global Affairs Canada, Fiji travel advice (carry an IDP; traffic on the left; give way to the right at roundabouts; zero tolerance; road conditions; 911 and 917): travel.gc.ca
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Fiji, safety and security (road conditions, night driving): gov.uk
• GOV.UK, international driving permit table (Fiji: 1949): gov.uk
• US Department of State, driving and road safety abroad (IDPs issued only by AAA and AATA): travel.state.gov
• UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (United States 1950, Fiji 1972): treaties.un.org