Driving abroad: These 34 countries accept SA licences

Are you planning to drive abroad but worried whether your South African driver’s licence will be accepted? There are 34 countries that recognise an SA driver’s licence, including the UK and Australia.

Different terms and conditions such as the period of validity apply in these different countries. Some only allow the use of your SA licence for a few months, while others are more lenient.

Obtaining an international driving permit (IDP)

It is advisable to obtain an international driving permit (IDP) before travelling outside of South Africa if you plan to drive in another country. However, it is not always necessary. One benefit of an IDP is that your driver’s licence is translated into several languages, which can be useful in countries where English is not the official language. It also serves as an alternative form of identification. If you plan to rent a car in another country, you will need an IDP. To apply for an IDP, you can either visit an AA-accredited sales agent in person or visit the Automobile Association (AA) website.

Driving after emigrating

For those who are emigrating and wish to drive in another country on a long-term basis, a driver’s licence confirmation letter, known as a driver’s licence certificate, is required. You will need this to convert your SA licence into a corresponding licence of the destination country. While this certificate is widely accepted, not all countries recognise it. In countries where it is not accepted, you will need to apply for a driver’s licence upon arrival and follow the country’s procedures for obtaining a licence.

Countries that recognise SA driver’s licences

Certain countries have agreements with South Africa regarding SA citizens visiting or relocating, allowing more leniency in terms of using SA driver’s licences. These countries include Botswana, Zimbabwe, Canada, France, and New Zealand, among others.

In Finland, you can drive with your SA driver’s licence for up to two years.

The following countries allow you to drive with an SA driver’s licence for up to a year:

• Croatia
• France
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Singapore

You can drive with your SA driver’s licence for up to 6 months in the following countries:

• Andorra
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Estonia
• Germany
• Greece
• Lesotho
• Montenegro
• Poland
• Portugal             
• Russia (only if accompanied by an IDP)
• UK

The following countries allow you to drive with your SA driver’s licence for up to 3 months:

• Australia
• Botswana
• Luxembourg
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Panama
• San Marino (only if accompanied by an IDP)
• Seychelles
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

In Angola and Mauritius, you can drive with your SA driver’s licence for up to one month, after which you will need an IDP.

In addition to the regular expiration date, the following countries allow the unrestricted use of an SA driver’s licence – Eswatini, Hungary, Sweden, and the United States. Some US states may require an IDP.

It is important to confirm any stipulations regarding the acceptance of an SA driver’s licence in other countries before you travel as regulations can change.