Can a British Driver Use Their Licence in Micronesia? — IDP Recommended, Right-Hand Roads
United Kingdom
Micronesia
A British licence holder can drive in the Federated States of Micronesia, and carrying an International Driving Permit alongside it is the sensible move because local enforcement and rental rules are not well documented. The one fact you must internalise: Micronesia drives on the right, the opposite of the UK.
The Federated States of Micronesia — Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap and Kosrae — is a scatter of Pacific islands where a hire car covers the short distances buses and taxis don’t. If you are British and wondering whether your licence works here, this is the honest version.
Driving on a UK licence
A British licence holder can drive in Micronesia, and the practical advice is to carry an International Driving Permit with it. The country does not publish detailed, easily verified rules for foreign drivers, so the IDP earns its place: it is a recognised translation of your licence and smooths things over at a rental desk or a roadside check. Pair it with your UK licence and passport, sort the IDP at the Post Office before you fly, and confirm the specifics directly with whoever you hire the car from — that conversation matters more here than any printed regulation.
The one thing that will catch you out
Micronesia drives on the right. For a British driver that is the opposite of everything instinctive, and the islands give you no gentle motorway run-in to adjust on — you are straight onto local roads. The risk points are the familiar ones in reverse: pulling away on the wrong side, the wrong-way glance at a junction, and drifting left after a turn. Take it deliberately for the first hour.
Honest note on speeds and conditions
Published speed limits for Micronesia are sparse and not reliably documented, so this page will not invent a number for you. What is true is that the road network is short and slow rather than fast: distances are tiny, surfaces are mixed, and the realistic hazards are pedestrians, the heat and the occasional rough stretch rather than high-speed traffic. Drive to the road in front of you, keep your speed conservative, and you will be fine. The emergency number is 112.
Before you travel, confirm exactly which documents you need with our Driving Permit Checker, and if you are island-hopping onward, the Speed Limit Map is a useful reference for wherever you head next.
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. Learn more.
More Free Tools
Explore TyreMap
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, British visitors generally drive on a home licence backed by an International Driving Permit. Because formal published rules are thin, carry the IDP, your UK licence and passport together and confirm requirements with your rental company in advance.
The Federated States of Micronesia drive on the right — the opposite side to the UK. This is the single biggest adjustment for British drivers, so take your first session slowly.
Posted limits across the islands are low and not consistently documented; the road network is small and slow rather than fast. Drive to the conditions, watch for pedestrians, and treat any posted sign as the maximum.