San Marino 2026 on a UK Licence: Carry the 1968 IDP Too
United Kingdom
San Marino
GOV.UK says you need both the 1968 IDP and your UK licence in the car in San Marino, so buy the IDP before leaving the UK. You arrive via Italy, drive on the right and climb hairpins.
San Marino is a tiny republic landlocked entirely inside Italy, so for a British visitor it is really an extension of an Italian road trip — you drive in without a border post, and the rules barely change as you cross.
Can a British licence holder drive in San Marino?
Yes, with one extra document. GOV.UK says British drivers need both the 1968 International Driving Permit and the UK licence with them in the car in San Marino, and hire firms may set stricter terms, such as a year of experience or a higher minimum age. Because you almost certainly arrive in a car hired in Italy, pack the IDP for the San Marino leg alongside your licence, passport and the hire documents. It cannot be bought outside the UK, so arrange it before leaving Britain.
Right-hand driving, but the gradient is the real test
San Marino drives on the right, matching the Italy you have just driven through and the opposite of home. If you have already been on Italian roads the side switch is behind you; if San Marino is your first stop off the plane, treat the first hour with care. Either way, the genuine challenge here is vertical, not lateral. The country is built around Monte Titano, and the road up to the walled historic centre is a series of steep, tight hairpins with sharp drops and limited parking at the top. Use low gears, take the bends slowly, and consider parking in one of the lower car parks and walking or taking the cable car up rather than threading a hire car through the medieval lanes.
Limits, alcohol and the basics
Town speed is 50 km/h and rural roads 70 km/h; there is no motorway, and the terrain keeps you well below those numbers anyway. The drink-drive limit is a strict 0.05, lower than England’s 0.08 — on these gradients, none before driving is the only sensible policy. The emergency number is 112.
Confirm what you need to carry with the Driving Permit Checker, and since your trip runs through Italy, check city-centre access rules in our Italy ZTL fines guide before you set off.
Sources
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with the 1968 International Driving Permit. GOV.UK says you need both the 1968 IDP and your UK licence with you in the car in San Marino. The IDP cannot be bought outside the UK, so get it before you set off for Italy.
On the right, like the surrounding Italy — the opposite of the UK. The bigger challenge is not the side but the gradient: the climb to the historic centre is all tight hairpins.
San Marino enforces a 0.05 blood-alcohol limit, stricter than the 0.08 used in England. On the steep approach roads, treat zero as the working rule.