Maldives on a UK Licence 2026: 1968 IDP and Very Few Roads

The Maldives drives on the left, exactly as the UK does, so side of the road is the one thing a British visitor does not have to think about. The rest of the question, whether a British driver should be driving here at all, is more interesting. For most visitors a car never features, and for those who do plan to drive, two governments give different answers on paperwork.

Few roads, mostly boats

The Maldives is a scattered nation of coral islands. Resort transfers run by speedboat, dhoni or seaplane, and only a few islands have the infrastructure for cars. The capital Malé, neighbouring Hulhumalé and Addu City in the south are the main places where a car or scooter makes sense, and Malé’s streets are tight and full of scooters. If your trip is a resort stay, you will likely not drive at all.

Which document: two official answers

The UK government’s advice is to carry both the correct version of the international driving permit and your UK driving licence in the car. The Maldives joined the 1968 Vienna Convention in 2023 and is not a party to the 1949 one, so the 1968 IDP is the version that matches. GOV.UK adds that an IDP cannot be bought outside the UK, so get it before you fly.

Global Affairs Canada tells its own travellers something different: a local driving permit is required, and international driving licences are not permitted. That advice is written for Canadian licences, but it shows that practice on the ground can differ from the treaty position. If you plan to drive or ride, carry the 1968 IDP and your licence, and ask your hotel or hire firm in writing whether it also needs a local permit for you. A written answer protects you if a police officer or a hire desk reads the rule differently.

The Driving Permit Checker covers other countries on a longer trip: Driving Permit Checker.

Hire-car conditions

GOV.UK warns that hire companies often set stricter conditions than the law, for example a year of driving experience and a minimum age of 20 or 21. The legal minimum driving age in the Maldives is 18, against 17 in the UK, so a young British driver can meet the legal bar and still be turned away at the desk. Ask about age and experience when booking, not on arrival.

What differs from UK driving

Our records hold few hard figures for the islands, so the comparison is about habits rather than numbers.

• Speed units: UK limits are in mph, at 30 in towns, 60 on rural roads and 70 on motorways. The Maldives has no motorways, and our data carry no verified table for the islands, so follow the posted signs.
• Fines: UK penalties start at GBP 100 plus 3 points for ordinary speeding and GBP 200 plus 6 points for a handheld phone. We hold no Maldivian fine schedule, so do not assume the amounts match.
• Equipment: the UK treats a triangle, vest and extinguisher as recommended. The Maldives has no equipment list in our data.
• Scooters: Malé’s narrow streets carry heavy scooter traffic, so check mirrors and blind spots often.

Alcohol: none at the wheel

The UK government says alcoholic drinks are available only on resort islands, and that possessing or drinking alcohol, or being intoxicated, outside resorts and on inhabited islands can lead to arrest and deportation. Since every road is on an inhabited island, the rule is simple: none, at any time.

Emergency numbers

The UK uses 999. The Maldives does not: police 119, ambulance 102 and fire 118. Save these before you land, because none of them match the 999 you know.

The Maldives driving guide has more.

Sources

• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Maldives, safety and security (correct IDP plus UK licence; IDPs only sold in the UK; hire-car conditions; alcohol only on resort islands): gov.uk
• Global Affairs Canada, Maldives travel advice (local driving permit required; international licences not permitted; traffic on the left; few islands with car infrastructure): travel.gc.ca
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Maldives, getting help (police 119, ambulance 102, fire 118): gov.uk
• UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (Maldives acceded 9 January 2023; United Kingdom a party): treaties.un.org