UK Drivers in Lebanon 2026: Licence Valid Alone, Keep Right
United Kingdom
Lebanon
A UK licence is enough on its own, per GOV.UK; a 1968 IDP also works, a 1949 one does not. Lebanon keeps right, limits are 50/70/100 km/h, diesel cars are banned and the alcohol limit is 0.05.
A British visitor has the simplest paperwork of almost anyone driving in Lebanon. The harder part is the road itself, and before that, the current travel warnings.
Your UK licence is enough
GOV.UK says you need either a 1968 international driving permit or a UK driving licence to drive in Lebanon. The UK licence on its own therefore works. If you do buy a permit, it must be the 1968 version: the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted. Permits cannot be bought outside the UK, which in practice means you get yours before you fly. Temporary local licences exist but take longer and cost more than an IDP. Carry ID at all times, because the army runs checkpoints on major and minor roads and you must be ready to stop and show your papers.
Switching to the right
The UK drives on the left and Lebanon on the right, a full side switch, and the danger window is your first day: the reflexive wrong-way glance at a junction, the instinct to drift left as you pull away. Spend your opening hour somewhere calm rather than dropping straight into central Beirut.
Limits in mph, alcohol in mg
| Road | Limit | In mph |
|---|---|---|
| Towns | 50 km/h | 31 |
| Rural roads | 70 km/h | just over 40 |
| Motorways | 100 km/h | 62 |
The alcohol limit is 0.05, stricter than the 0.08 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and equal to Scotland’s. GOV.UK adds that seat belts must be worn where fitted and that cars with diesel engines are banned, so check the fuel type on your hire car’s paperwork.
What GOV.UK says about driving standards
GOV.UK calls driving standards poor and the accident rate high. Traffic lights are often switched off and not always observed, which turns a signalled junction into a negotiation. If you are inexperienced, it may be better to hire a car with a driver. Avoid travelling at night outside towns if possible.
Roadblocks, landmines and shared taxis
Protests and roadblocks can restrict travel at short notice, and major roads in and out of Beirut, including the airport roads, have been blocked. If you are travelling to or from the airport, check your flight status before leaving and allow extra time. If roads from the airport are blocked, GOV.UK says to wait there until the authorities confirm that access roads are open.
Landmines and unexploded weapons are present in Lebanon and are not always clearly marked. Use only well-travelled tracks, do not stray from their edges, avoid remote abandoned properties, and use local guides if you are unsure. That matters for drivers who park off the road to take a photograph.
For taxis, GOV.UK’s advice is blunt: do not use shared taxis or taxis hailed on the street. It cites armed robberies and physical attacks on passengers in service taxis. Use only recognised companies that use vetted drivers recognised by hotels. Read the current FCDO advice before booking, since some areas are covered by warnings against travel.
Practical planning
Arrive with the IDP, your licence and your passport in a single folder, and keep a photocopy of each elsewhere. Write down your hotel’s address in Arabic or have it saved on your phone, because that helps a driver or an officer at a checkpoint. If you are renting a car, ask the company whether it is diesel or petrol before you accept it, as GOV.UK says diesel-engined cars are banned. Keep a full tank when leaving the capital, and tell someone your route if you plan a mountain day.
Numbers to save
Police 112, ambulance 140, fire 175. At home you dial 999, so the numbers differ. See the Lebanon driving guide for more, and the guide to driving fines abroad and who pays explains how foreign penalties usually play out.
Sources
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Lebanon safety and security (UK licence or 1968 IDP; 1949 IDP no longer accepted; temporary local licences; seat belts; diesel ban; checkpoints; roadblocks; landmines; shared taxis): gov.uk
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Lebanon getting help (police 112, ambulance 140, fire 175): gov.uk
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Lebanon profile (50/70/100 km/h; 0.05 g/dl): who.int
- GOV.UK, the drink-drive limit (80 mg in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; 50 mg in Scotland): gov.uk
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. GOV.UK says you need either a 1968 international driving permit or a UK driving licence to drive in Lebanon, so the photocard licence on its own is accepted. Do not rely on a 1949 permit: GOV.UK says it is no longer accepted.
Lebanon drives on the right, so British drivers face a full side switch from the UK's left. The first day is where old reflexes bite, especially pulling out and at junctions.
GOV.UK describes driving standards as poor and the accident rate as high, with traffic lights often switched off and not always observed. It suggests hiring a car with a driver if you are inexperienced, and avoiding night travel outside towns. Check the current travel warnings first, as some areas are under all-travel or all-but-essential-travel advice.
GOV.UK says not to use shared taxis or taxis hailed on the street, citing armed robberies and attacks on passengers in service taxis. Use only recognised companies that use vetted drivers recognised by hotels.