Angola drives on the right. Alcohol is capped at 0.06%, not zero, with 50 km/h in town, 80 rural and 100 on motorways. But check the licence and document rules first.
Angola Driving Side Is Right; Alcohol Capped at 0.06% (2026)
Data verified:
4 min readAngola drives on the right side of the road. The minimum driving age is 18. The motorway speed limit is 100 km/h. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.06% BAC.
Using a mobile phone behind the wheel in Angola costs a stiff roadside fine — often more than a speeding fine. The rule covers handling the device even at traffic lights, which surprises many visitors.
Personalise for Your Trip
See how Angola differs from your home country
Watch: Driving in Angola
Driving - Angola - RAW - Downtown - Beachfront - Luanda - 4K · Road Trip Oasis
Angola drives on the right, so the steering wheel sits on the left and you overtake on the left — the reverse of the habit if you have come from a left-hand country. Speed tiers run 50 km/h in town, 80 km/h on rural roads and 100 km/h on motorways, the blood-alcohol limit is a fixed 0.06% rather than zero tolerance; for help dial police on 110, ambulance on 112 or fire on 118.
Your case: 0.06% is not permission to have a drink before driving in Luanda — what the threshold actually covers, and what follows if you are over it, is set out under drink-driving laws.
💡 Try it yourself: World Speed Limit Map — Angola’s limits by road type, next to 194 other countries, free.
Emergency Numbers in Angola
Police: 110 | Ambulance: 112 | Fire: 118
Save these numbers before you start driving. In Angola, emergency calls are free from any phone.
Speed Limits in Angola
The default speed limits for passenger cars in Angola are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on rural roads, and 100 km/h on motorways.
Heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are held to lower limits; Angola’s exact truck figures are not in any official source we could check.
Important: Posted signs always override default limits. Watch for temporary restrictions in construction zones, near schools, and in residential areas.
Speeding Fines and Penalties
Speeding fines in Angola vary based on how much you exceed the posted limit. Fines increase sharply for higher violations and may include licence points or driving bans for serious offences.
Traffic Rules and Regulations
Drive on the right side of the road. Overtake on the left. At roundabouts, enter counter-clockwise and yield to traffic already circulating.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants. Children must use appropriate restraint systems based on their age and height.
Using a hand-held phone while driving is prohibited. Hands-free systems are permitted.
Use headlights in poor visibility, tunnels, and at night. Some areas require headlights at all times.
At unmarked intersections, traffic from the right generally has priority unless signs indicate otherwise.
Drink-Driving Laws and Alcohol Limits
The legal blood alcohol limit in Angola is 0.06% BAC. This is higher than Chad (0.00% (zero tolerance) BAC). Exceeding this limit results in fines, licence suspension, and possible criminal charges. For novice drivers and professional drivers, stricter limits may apply.
The safest approach is to not drink at all if you will be driving. Alcohol affects reaction time and judgement regardless of the legal limit.
Tyre Requirements and Regulations
Winter tyres are not required in Angola. Standard tyres are sufficient for normal driving conditions.
The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm.
Studded tyres are prohibited in Angola.
For detailed tyre law information, see our Tyre Laws in Angola guide.
Driving License Requirements
Always carry your original driving licence — photocopies are not accepted.
Parking and Fuel
Parking rules vary by city. Look for designated parking areas and always check signs for time limits and payment requirements.
We do not hold a verified, dated fuel price for Angola, so check a local price app or the board at the station before you budget.
Most fuel stations accept major credit and debit cards. In rural areas, keep your tank above half — stations may be far apart.
Seasonal Driving Conditions
Angola has a varied conditions. Road conditions can change significantly between urban and rural areas. Heavy rain during the wet season may make some roads impassable. In arid regions, heat and dust affect visibility and vehicle performance.
Plan routes carefully and carry extra water and fuel for long journeys.
Useful Driving Phrases in Portuguese
Knowing a few phrases in Portuguese helps at fuel stations, toll booths, and during police checks:
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Where is the nearest petrol station? | Onde é o posto de gasolina mais próximo? |
| I need help / roadside assistance | Preciso de ajuda / assistência na estrada |
| Where can I park? | Onde posso estacionar? |
| How do I get to the motorway? | Como chego à autoestrada? |
| I had an accident | Tive um acidente |
| Speed limit | Limite de velocidade |
| No parking | Proibido estacionar |
| Toll road | Estrada com portagem |
| Fill up the tank, please | Encha o depósito, por favor |
Download the Portuguese language pack in your translation app for offline use.
Practical Driving Tips for Angola
- Download offline maps of Angola before your trip — mobile signal can be unreliable on rural roads.
- Take a break every 2 hours on long drives. Fatigue is a leading cause of road accidents.
- Use our interactive tools on this page — compare rules with your home country and calculate potential fines before you set off.
Related tools
Speed Limits in Angola
| Road Type | Cars | Trucks (>3.5t) |
|---|---|---|
| Urban | 50 km/h | — |
| Rural | 80 km/h | — |
| Motorway | 100 km/h | — |
Useful Driving Phrases in Portuguese
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Where is the nearest petrol station? | Onde é o posto de gasolina mais próximo? |
| I need help / roadside assistance | Preciso de ajuda / assistência na estrada |
| Where can I park? | Onde posso estacionar? |
| How do I get to the motorway? | Como chego à autoestrada? |
| I had an accident | Tive um acidente |
| Speed limit | Limite de velocidade |
| No parking | Proibido estacionar |
| Toll road | Estrada com portagem |
| Fill up the tank, please | Encha o depósito, por favor |
Emergency Numbers in Angola
These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Tyre Laws in Angola
Winter tyre requirements, tread depth rules, and studded tyre regulations.
View tyre regulationsAvoid a fine in Angola
Who pays a driving fine abroad, the hire-car admin-fee trap, and how to appeal.
Read the fine guideDriving in Angola on a foreign licence
Nationality-specific licence, IDP & rules — pick where your licence is from:
Renting a Car in Angola?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
Recent changes to this page
- Minimum driving age added: 18 for a car licence, from Codigo de Estrada (Angola), art. 124 n.2 (carta de conducao: A1 16; A, B, EB 18, ou 21 se profissional) e n.3 (licenca ciclomotores 16) (https://www.stac.co.ao/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/codigoestrada.pdf).
- Truck speed limits removed: the 50/70/80 km/h figures were a template default with no official source for this country.
- Undated, unsourced fuel price estimate removed.
- Emergency numbers corrected from 112 to the official figures (GOV.UK foreign travel advice).
- Opening rewritten to answer the driving-side question this page is found for. Removed the vignette and European emission-zone links, neither of which covers Angola, in favour of this page's own drink-driving section.
- Title, description and introduction rewritten from this page's own data (no shared template wording).
- Replaced the speeding-fine calculator link: that tool covers 17 countries and Angola is not one of them, so the link could not answer the question it promised. It now points to the speed-limit map, which does cover Angola.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Angola, the default speed limits for passenger vehicles are: urban areas 50 km/h (31 mph), rural roads 80 km/h (50 mph), and motorways 100 km/h (62 mph). Always follow posted signs as limits may differ on specific roads.
In Angola, traffic drives on the right side of the road. Vehicles have the steering wheel on the left side. If you are visiting from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at intersections, roundabouts, and when overtaking.
Foreign visitors to Angola should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their valid national driving license. An IDP translates your license into multiple languages and is recognized internationally. Check with the embassy of Angola for the most current requirements.
Winter tyres in Angola are: Not Required. Regardless of legal requirements, winter tyres or all-season tyres with the appropriate markings (M+S or 3PMSF) are strongly recommended when temperatures drop below 7°C for improved safety and grip.
The emergency numbers in Angola are police 110, ambulance 112 and fire 118. These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, be prepared to state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in Angola. Hands-free systems (Bluetooth, speakerphone, or mounted devices) are permitted. Penalties for mobile phone use while driving typically include fines. For safety, always use hands-free solutions or pull over to use your phone.
When driving in Angola, you should always carry: your valid driving license (and IDP if applicable), vehicle registration document, valid insurance certificate (Green Card for European countries), and your passport or national ID. Rental car drivers should also carry the rental agreement. Police may request these documents during routine checks.
Driving in Angola is generally safe for tourists who are prepared. Before driving, familiarize yourself with local traffic rules, road signs, and driving customs. Consider downloading offline maps, carrying emergency supplies, and purchasing comprehensive insurance. Avoid driving at night in unfamiliar areas if possible.
Get Driving Law Updates
Speed limits, fines and tyre laws change frequently. Get monthly updates for the countries you drive in.
Related Articles
Are Dashcams Legal in Austria? No — EUR 10,000 Fine in 2026
Country-by-country status for 2026, which courts accept the footage, the confiscation risk at an Austrian stop, and the rule that catches hire cars.
Driving LawsEurope Speeding Fines 2026: EUR 15 to an Uncapped Day-Fine
The same 20 km/h over the limit costs EUR 15 at the cheap end and EUR 70 on a German Autobahn, and in Switzerland a share of income with no ceiling.
Driving LawsRadar Detectors Legal in Europe 2026: 5 Bans, €1,500 Fine
The 2026 table for all of Europe: hardware versus camera-warning apps, five outright bans, France's EUR 1,500 seizure and Germany's EUR 75 use-only rule.
Explore Guides
How Angola compares worldwide
Angola Tyre Laws
Winter tyres, tread depth & tyre regulations
Algeria
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon