South Sudan 2026: IDP Plus Government Third-Party Cover
United States
South Sudan
An International Driving Permit and government third-party liability insurance are required in South Sudan, per the U.S. State Department. Traffic keeps right like the US.
For American visitors, South Sudan asks for two pieces of paperwork, and even so they are the simplest part of the trip. Here’s where you actually stand.
Licence and insurance: both required
The U.S. State Department’s country page says: “An international driver’s license and third-party liability insurance from the government is required.” So your US licence needs an International Driving Permit beside it, arranged at home through AAA or AATA, and the vehicle needs government third-party cover. The same page advises showing documents at checkpoints without surrendering them, and suggests a laminated copy; carry the IDP, your US licence and passport together. If you want to confirm the requirement for your exact trip, the Driving Permit Checker is the quickest way.
No side switch — but that’s not the hard part
South Sudan drives on the right, exactly as the US does, so there’s none of the left-hand-traffic relearning that trips up drivers elsewhere. The real adjustments are environmental. Outside Juba, sealed roads are scarce; many routes are graded earth that turn to deep mud in the rainy season (March to November, per the State Department) and become impassable without a 4x4. Plan around the weather, not the map distance.
Speeds, security and how to actually drive here
Posted limits run 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 on rural roads and 100 on the few highway stretches, but condition rather than the sign sets your real speed. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.08; treat it as zero given the conditions. Two habits matter more than any rule: travel in daylight only — unlit vehicles, livestock and poor surfaces make night driving genuinely dangerous — and check current security advice before any intercity move, as routes can close at short notice. The emergency number is 112, but assistance is limited, so self-sufficiency (spare fuel, water, a working spare tyre) is part of the plan.
Before you set off
Keep your IDP, US licence and passport accessible for checkpoints, and carry recovery basics. For the country-level rules see our South Sudan driving guide, and if you’re crossing borders in the region, re-check paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Country Information, South Sudan (“An international driver’s license and third-party liability insurance from the government is required.”), last updated November 26, 2025: cadataapi.state.gov
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not by itself. The U.S. State Department says an international driver's licence and third-party liability insurance from the government are required. Carry the IDP, your US licence and passport together; checkpoints are common.
Yes — South Sudan drives on the right, the same as the United States, so there's no left-right adjustment. The challenge is road condition and security, not which side you're on.
The blood-alcohol limit is 0.08, the same figure used across most US states. Enforcement is inconsistent, but driving after drinking in an unfamiliar, low-infrastructure country is a serious risk — keep it at zero.