Palau 2026 on a US Licence: 30 Days, Then a Palau Licence
United States
Palau
Yes, for 30 days. Palau accepts a US state or military licence for that long, the State Department says, then you need a Palauan licence. Traffic keeps right, so there is no side switch.
Palau is a tiny Pacific nation where you’ll do very little driving — the islands are small, the distances short, and most visitors are here for the water, not the road. But the licence question still matters if you plan to hire a car around Koror or out onto Babeldaob.
Can an American drive in Palau? Yes
You can drive in Palau on your US licence for up to 30 days. The State Department says Palau “accepts a driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or military authority for up to 30 days”; after that, any foreign driver must obtain a Palauan driver licence through the Bureau of Public Safety. An International Driving Permit is not part of the rule, so a short visit needs only your state licence.
The good news: no side switch
Palau drives on the right, exactly as the United States does. That removes the single biggest hazard most American drivers face abroad — there’s no roundabout-the-wrong-way moment, no mirror-reversed instinct to fight. Your habits all still work here.
Be honest about what isn’t documented
Palau publishes little of the usual data on limits and fines. Reliable, current figures for Palau’s speed limits, blood-alcohol limit and standard fines are not well published for visitors, and padding this page with made-up numbers would do you no favours. What is true and useful: roads are limited in extent and often narrow, surfaces vary, and the sensible approach is to drive to the road, not to a sign — keep speeds low, watch for pedestrians and unlit hazards, and don’t drink at all before driving. The emergency number to save is 112.
Before you collect the car
Bring your US licence and your passport, and confirm the car’s insurance and condition at the desk. To check exactly what permit you need for any leg of a wider trip, use the Driving Permit Checker, and browse the rest of our destination rules from the driving guides index.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Country Information, Palau (“Palau accepts a driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or military authority for up to 30 days. After 30 days in Palau, any foreign driver must obtain a Palauan driver license.”), last updated January 15, 2026: cadataapi.state.gov
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for up to 30 days. The U.S. State Department says "Palau accepts a driver's license issued by a U.S. state or military authority for up to 30 days," after which any foreign driver must obtain a Palauan licence. No International Driving Permit is needed for a short visit; the Bureau of Public Safety, (680) 488-2423, handles local licences.
Palau drives on the right, the same as the United States, so there is no side switch for American drivers. The roads are limited and slow-going, so the real adjustment is pace and surface condition, not direction.
Posted limits in Palau are low and not consistently documented for visitors — distances are short and most driving is on Babeldaob and around Koror. Treat it as a slow-speed environment and drive to what you can see rather than to a sign.