Rwanda 2026 for UK Licence Holders: a 1949 IDP Is Required
United Kingdom
Rwanda
GOV.UK says you need both the 1949 IDP and your UK licence in the car, and an IDP cannot be bought outside the UK. Rwanda drives on the right, on hilly, winding roads.
Rwanda has a reputation for being one of the tidiest, best-organised countries in the region to drive, and for a British visitor it is genuinely manageable. The single thing to relearn is the side of the road, on terrain that keeps your speed honest.
Can you drive on a UK licence?
Yes, but the licence needs a partner. GOV.UK says British drivers need both the 1949 International Driving Permit and the UK licence with them in the car in Rwanda. It is the 1949 version, and it cannot be bought outside the UK, so arrange it before you fly; you cannot get one in Kigali.
The real change: switching to the right
The UK drives on the left; Rwanda drives on the right. That side switch is the thing most likely to catch you out — roundabouts now circulate the other way, the driver sits on the left, and your overtaking instincts are reversed. The danger window is your first hour, so begin on quieter roads rather than in Kigali traffic, and stay deliberate at every junction until “keep right” feels automatic.
Hilly roads keep speeds down
Limits are 50 km/h in town, 80 km/h on rural roads and around 100 km/h on the best stretches — but Rwanda is the “land of a thousand hills”, and in practice the constant climbs, descents and tight bends keep you well below those numbers. Surfaces on main routes are good; venture onto secondary roads and you meet gravel, cyclists, pedestrians and the occasional unlit vehicle after dark. Drive to the road and avoid rushing the bends. Fuel is around $1.22 a litre.
Before you collect the car
Carry your UK licence, IDP and passport together. Rwanda’s drink-drive limit is 0.08, but local enforcement is taken seriously, so treat “don’t drink and drive” as the rule. The emergency number is 112. See the full local detail on our Rwanda driving guide, confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, and read who pays driving fines abroad for how penalties follow you home.
Sources
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
Only with the 1949 International Driving Permit. GOV.UK says you need both the 1949 IDP and your UK licence with you in the car, and the IDP cannot be bought outside the UK, so arrange it before you travel.
Rwanda drives on the right, the opposite of the UK, so a left-to-right side switch applies at junctions, roundabouts and when overtaking.
Towns are 50 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h and the best roads around 100 km/h. Rwanda's hilly terrain and winding roads mean you will often travel below the limit anyway.