Papua New Guinea on an Indian Licence — No Side Switch, IDP Recommended

Papua New Guinea is one of the more demanding places an Indian traveller can drive, but the licence side of it is refreshingly simple.

Can an Indian licence holder drive here? Yes

You can drive in Papua New Guinea on your Indian licence, and an International Driving Permit is recommended to sit alongside it. The IDP isn’t a universal legal requirement, but it gives rental firms and police a recognised translation and avoids confusion — arrange it in India before you travel. Keep the IDP, your Indian licence and your passport together.

And here is the part that works in your favour: PNG drives on the left, exactly like India. There’s no side switch to retrain, no backwards glance at junctions, none of the first-day danger window that catches Indian drivers heading to Europe or the US. Your road instincts transfer straight across.

The alcohol limit is looser than home — don’t let that fool you

PNG’s drink-drive limit is 0.08, higher than India’s 0.03. That sounds like more leeway, but it isn’t a licence to drink and drive: roads here are unforgiving, lighting is poor outside the capital, and a small lapse carries a big cost. Treat the higher number as irrelevant and drive sober.

What really needs your attention

Speed limits are modest — 50 km/h in towns, 70 rural, 80 at the top end — and on most roads the surface enforces an even slower pace than the sign. Away from Port Moresby and the Highlands Highway, expect potholes, washouts and unsealed stretches; a 4WD is often the sensible choice. Security is a genuine consideration too, so plan routes in daylight and take local advice on which areas to avoid.

Fuel runs around $0.95 a litre, and the emergency number is 112. Download offline maps before you go, because mobile coverage drops away quickly once you leave the main centres.

Check the wider rules on our Papua New Guinea driving guide and confirm what documents you need with the Driving Permit Checker before you book a vehicle.