Can an Indian Drive in Réunion? — IDP Recommended, French Rules, Switch to the Right

Réunion is a French island in the Indian Ocean, and a hire car is the only real way to reach its volcano, its cirques and its coast road. For an Indian visitor the trip is very doable — the adjustments are the side of the road and the fact that this is France, with French rules.

Can you drive on an Indian licence?

Yes. Réunion is an overseas region of France, and an Indian licence is accepted for a short visit. An International Driving Permit is recommended — it acts as the French-language translation that rental agencies and gendarmes expect to see alongside your Indian licence and passport. Arrange the IDP in India before you fly; you cannot get one on the island.

The real change: switching to the right

India drives on the left; Réunion drives on the right, like mainland France. That side switch is the thing most likely to catch you out — roundabouts circulate the other way, the driver sits on the left, and your overtaking instincts are reversed. The danger window is the first day, so start on quieter coastal roads before tackling the tight mountain routes inland.

What we will not invent

This is an honest page for a small destination. We do not hold separately verified speed-limit or blood-alcohol figures specific to Réunion in our data, so we will not make them up. What is reliably true: Réunion follows French traffic law, which means a strict drink-drive regime (treat alcohol as off-limits before driving), speeds posted in kilometres per hour, and European signage. The genuine local challenge is the terrain — steep, narrow, hairpinned mountain roads with sheer drops and frequent cloud, plus busy coastal traffic. Drive to the road, use low gears on the descents, and don’t rush the switchbacks.

The emergency number is 112. See our Réunion driving guide for local detail, confirm your documents with the Driving Permit Checker, and our note on who pays driving fines abroad explains how a French penalty would reach you back home.