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

Kiribati is about as far off the standard road-trip map as a country gets. If you are flying in from the US and expect to drive, the licence is straightforward — it is the road and the side of it that need a moment’s thought.

The verdict on your American licence

You can drive in Kiribati on your American licence as a visitor, and an International Driving Permit is recommended to carry with it. The IDP is the certified back-up that makes a rental or roadside interaction simpler; it does not replace your licence. Get it sorted in the US before departure — you cannot obtain one on arrival — and travel with the IDP, your US licence and your passport together.

The change to plan for: driving on the left

The United States drives on the right; Kiribati drives on the left. That side switch is the one genuine adjustment for an American driver: you will sit on the right of the car, and your instinct at junctions and when pulling out will be wrong for the first day. The saving grace is speed — there is very little fast road here, so the consequences of a wrong-side reflex are smaller than they would be on a US highway. Still, stay deliberate until “keep left” feels natural.

What to expect on the ground

The capital, South Tarawa, is strung along a thin chain of islets linked by causeways, and the usable road is short, flat and shared with pedestrians, cyclists and the odd dog. Posted speed limits are not formally documented, so drive to what you can see rather than to a number — slow is correct here. We won’t invent fuel prices or fine figures the data doesn’t provide. The emergency number is 112. To confirm exactly what your US licence covers for any vehicle you hire, check the Driving Permit Checker before you go.