South Africa for British Drivers — Same Side, but a Stricter Limit

Both countries drive on the left, so the change that unsettles most visitors does not apply to you. GOV.UK adds the licence answer: you can use a UK photocard licence in South Africa for up to 12 months.

Licence: photocard fine, paper licence not

If you still have a paper licence, GOV.UK says to get the 1968 version of the international driving permit before you travel, or update to a photocard. If you end up living in South Africa as a permanent resident, you must exchange your UK licence for a South African one within 12 months of getting residency. Hire companies may impose stricter conditions than the law, such as a year of driving experience and a higher minimum age, so read the booking terms. Check the permit position for other countries on your route with our driving permit checker.

What changes: numbers

The alcohol drop is the one that catches Britons out, because everything else feels familiar. South Africa runs 0.05, with no comfortable margin. Treat it as zero.

How South Africans actually drive

GOV.UK says driving standards vary, and fatal road accidents are common, particularly around weekends and major public holidays. Its advice is to obey speed limits, avoid unfamiliar areas, be extra vigilant at night, and keep fuel above half a tank.

Some habits will surprise you:

• On highways, drivers overtake or undertake in any lane, including the hard shoulder.
• On single-lane roads, trucks and slower vehicles sometimes use the hard shoulder to let faster cars pass.
• At four-way stops, and where traffic lights are out, the first vehicle to arrive generally has priority. Small roundabouts, known as circles, are treated the same way.
• On larger roundabouts, you should give way to the right, although drivers often do not.

That last point is the opposite of what you have learnt at home, so go slowly the first few times.

Minibus taxis, pedestrians and remote roads

Minibus taxis follow informal drop-off and pick-up rules with poor road discipline, GOV.UK says. Altercations with other road users and erratic driving are common. Pedestrian deaths account for a high number of road deaths every year, and walkers often cross major roads and highways away from marked crossings.

Road conditions are generally very good, but some remote roads are less well maintained and may have potholes. If you are heading to a remote lodge, ask the management about the road, since you may need a car with good ground clearance. Download an offline map, and save the roadside assistance number if you rent.

Fines compared with the UK

South African fines are fixed sums: ZAR 500 to 1,250 for up to 10 km/h over, ZAR 1,250 to 2,500 for up to 20 km/h over, and ZAR 2,500 or more with a court appearance beyond that. A phone in hand costs ZAR 500 to 1,000, a seatbelt ZAR 500 and a red light ZAR 1,250 to 2,500. At home a phone brings GBP 200 and 6 points, so the points system is the difference. The speeding fine calculator prices a specific speed.

City awareness and e-hailing

Carjacking is a genuine risk at quiet intersections in big cities. Keep doors locked and windows up, valuables out of sight, and stay alert at deserted lights after dark. GOV.UK also warns that scammers target people using e-hailing apps in major cities. Use an internationally recognised service, check the vehicle registration and driver before getting in, and do not wait in the street.

Emergency numbers

Police are 10111, ambulance and fire are 10177, and 112 works from a mobile. In the UK you dial 999 for every service. Our South Africa driving guide has full details.

Sources

• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, South Africa, safety and security (photocard licence for 12 months; 1968 IDP for paper licences; driving rules and standards; road conditions; e-hailing): gov.uk