Driving in Faroe Islands means right-hand traffic with rules that may differ from home. Several rules catch tourists off guard every year. Full guide with penalty calculator below.
Faroe Islands 2026: 0.02% Alcohol Limit, Right-Hand Roads
Data verified:
3 min readFaroe Islands drives on the right side of the road. The minimum driving age is 18. The general emergency number is 112. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.02% BAC. Our record lists no IDP requirement for visitors; the licence section below gives any conditions.
Foreign-registered vehicles in Faroe Islands face enforcement gaps on foreign plates — fines are passed on through rental admin fees. Budget a fixed roadside fine if you're flagged at 20+ km/h over the limit.
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Driving in the Faroes · Visit Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands set their blood alcohol limit at 0.02% (0.2 per mille), far below the 0.05% common in continental Europe. Traffic keeps to the right, and one number, 112, connects to police, fire and ambulance anywhere in the islands.
Speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h on other roads; there are no motorways. The blood alcohol limit is 0.02% BAC.
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Emergency Numbers in Faroe Islands
General Emergency: 112 | Police: 112
Save these numbers before you start driving. In Faroe Islands, emergency calls are free from any phone.
Speed Limits in Faroe Islands
The default speed limits for passenger cars in Faroe Islands are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside them (traffic act § 30 a). The islands have no motorways.
Trucks and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes have lower limits.
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 Faroe Islands 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. Roundabouts run anticlockwise; follow the signs at each one.
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.
Drink-Driving Laws and Alcohol Limits
The legal blood alcohol limit in Faroe Islands is 0.02% (0.2 per mille, traffic act § 16). Penalties for drink-driving include heavy fines, licence confiscation, and potential imprisonment.
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
Summer tyres are banned from 1 December to 30 April on the Faroe Islands unless chains are fitted to at least one drive axle, so in that period you need winter or studded tyres (Executive Order 59/2021).
The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, according to Faroese Executive Order 59/2021 on tyres.
Driving License Requirements
A foreign licence written in Latin letters is valid for visitors. A licence in another script needs an official translation into Faroese, Danish, English or French, or an International Driving Permit (Kunngerð 129/2018 § 79). The minimum age is 18. Carry the original licence.
Parking and Fuel
Parking rules vary by city. Look for designated parking areas and always check signs for time limits and payment requirements.
Most fuel stations accept major credit and debit cards. In rural areas, keep your tank above half — stations may be far apart.
Practical Driving Tips for Faroe Islands
- Download offline maps of Faroe Islands 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.
Sources
Speed Limits in Faroe Islands
| Road Type | Cars | Trucks (>3.5t) |
|---|---|---|
| Urban | 50 km/h | — |
| Rural | 80 km/h | — |
| Motorway | Verify locally | — |
Winter tyres in Faroe Islands — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are compulsory on fixed dates in Faroe Islands: 1 Dec - 30 Apr (winter or studded tyres, or chains on a drive axle).
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — Faroe Islands sets no separate winter figure.
- Accepted marking: Not specified in our source
- Studded tyres: allowed except 15 May - 15 Oct
Checked against national legislation, 1 Oct 2026 · Compare all countries
Licence Requirements for Foreign Drivers
Visitors may drive on a foreign licence written in Latin letters, or with an official translation into Faroese, Danish, English or French; an IDP is also accepted; minimum age 18 (Kunngerð 129/2018 § 79).
Emergency Numbers in Faroe Islands
These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Avoid a fine in Faroe Islands
Who pays a driving fine abroad, the hire-car admin-fee trap, and how to appeal.
Read the fine guideDriving in Faroe Islands on a foreign licence
Nationality-specific licence, IDP & rules — pick where your licence is from:
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Recent changes to this page
- Tyre rules corrected: template defaults (1.6 mm tread, winter tyres not required, studded tyres prohibited) replaced with sourced rules or removed where no official source exists.
- Minimum driving age added: 18 for a car licence, from an official source (https://www.akstovan.fo/koyrikort/bolkur-b).
- Drink-drive limit corrected from 0.05% to 0.02% (0.2 per mille) under the Faroese traffic act. Removed the 100 km/h motorway limit (the islands have none; the law sets 50 and 80 km/h), the IDP advice (a Latin-script licence is valid), the reversed roundabout rule and the studded-tyre ban. New title and description; sources added.
- 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 Faroe Islands is not one of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
For cars the traffic act sets 80 km/h (50 mph) on open roads and 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas. There are no motorways; always follow posted signs, which can set lower limits.
In Faroe Islands, 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.
Not if your licence is written in Latin letters. Visitors may drive on such a foreign licence; a licence in another script needs an official translation into Faroese, Danish, English or French, or an International Driving Permit. The minimum driving age is 18.
Summer tyres are banned from 1 December to 30 April on the Faroe Islands unless chains are fitted to at least one drive axle, so in that period you need winter or studded tyres (Executive Order 59/2021).
The general emergency number in Faroe Islands is 112. 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 Faroe Islands. 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 Faroe Islands, 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 Faroe Islands 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.
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