Can a Brit Drive in Monaco? — Yes on a UK Licence, but You Switch to the Right

Monaco is barely two square kilometres, hemmed in by France on every land side, and famous for a street circuit you will partly be driving on. For a British visitor the licence is the least of it; three small things are what to get right.

The licence answer

You can drive in Monaco on your UK licence as a visitor. An International Driving Permit is not strictly required and carrying one does no harm, but the principality recognises a valid British licence directly. Keep your licence, passport and the vehicle’s papers together, as you would anywhere on the Continent.

The side switch, in a very small space

The UK drives on the left; Monaco drives on the right, matching surrounding France. The switch itself is the usual first-hour hazard, but Monaco compresses it: the principality is tiny, steep and dense, threaded with tunnels and tight harbour-side junctions, so there is little room to ease into the new side. Take the first stretch slowly, watch your road position through the tunnels, and be deliberate at every turn until right-hand traffic feels automatic.

Alcohol and the breathalyser rule

The drink-drive limit is 0.05, below the UK’s 0.08, so the margin you may assume at home is gone — treat it as no alcohol before driving. As in France, the required kit includes a breathalyser alongside a warning triangle and reflective vest, so check the hire car carries them before you set off.

Speeds and the practical bits

Urban speeds sit around 50 km/h, and given the size and density of the place you will rarely have cause to go faster. Detailed open-road figures are not meaningful for somewhere this small — drive to the signs and the tight streets. The emergency number is 112.

Confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker and read the country detail on our Monaco driving guide before you arrive.