South Africa for French Drivers — Left-Side Switch & an IDP

South Africa rewards a self-drive trip more than almost anywhere — the Garden Route, the Cape passes, the long empty roads of the Karoo — but a French driver arrives with two things to take seriously, and they pull in different directions. The first is mechanical: the country drives on the left, where France drives on the right. The second is situational: in the cities, the car itself can be a target.

Deal with the side first, because it’s the one you can practise. Pulling away you’ll sit on the right of the cabin with the gearstick to your left, roundabouts run clockwise, and the instinct at a junction sends you to the wrong lane. Take your first half-hour somewhere quiet, and stay deliberate at every turn until left-keeping feels natural rather than chosen. Most of your driving will be on excellent national routes where this settles quickly.

On paperwork, an International Driving Permit is required — not merely recommended — because a French licence isn’t in English. Carry the IDP with your licence and passport; arrange it in France, as it can’t be issued in South Africa. The Driving Permit Checker confirms the requirement for your trip.

Now the part that genuinely sets South Africa apart. Carjacking and smash-and-grab at urban intersections are a real, well-documented risk, particularly in Johannesburg and parts of other cities. The standard local habits are worth adopting from day one: doors locked and windows up, bags and phones out of sight rather than on the passenger seat, a sensible following gap at red lights so you’re never boxed in, and — the firmest rule — avoid driving after dark in areas you don’t know. Some drivers treat night-time red lights in high-risk spots with caution rather than blind compliance; ask your rental company about local advice. None of this should put you off the open road, where the experience is superb, but the city calculus is different from France.

On the numbers, the motorway limit is 120 km/h, rural roads 100, towns 60, and a 10 km/h overage runs to ZAR 500-1,250 (≈ EUR 25-65) — model a specific speed on the Speeding Fine Calculator if you like. Watch for minibus taxis, which stop and pull out unpredictably, and for potholes and animals on rural roads.

Fuel is cheap at around EUR 1.12 a litre (and attendants pump it for you — tip them), and emergency numbers are 10111 for police or 112 from a mobile. The full ruleset is on the South Africa driving guide.