1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
RequiredBenin recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your home licence and passport at all times for police checks.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Benin
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Benin: 8 legal requirements + 10 other things worth knowing.
8
Required
3
Recommended
7
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Benin
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
Benin recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your home licence and passport at all times for police checks.
Visa or e-visa before arrival
UK and most EU nationals must obtain an e-visa via evisa.gouv.bj before travel; land border officials will refuse entry without it.
Carte Brune (ECOWAS Brown Card) insurance
Standard European green card is not valid; buy a Carte Brune ECOWAS regional insurance certificate at the border or from a local insurer for roughly XOF 25,000-50,000 (EUR 38-76).
Carnet de Passage for own vehicle
Bringing a foreign-registered car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane plus V5C/registration document; without it customs will impound the vehicle or charge a heavy temporary import deposit.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left.
Speed limits 90/60/40 km/h
Open roads 90 km/h, smaller rural roads 60 km/h, and built-up areas 40 km/h; there are no motorways in Benin.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
Drink-driving limit is 0.8 g/L of blood (0.08%), but enforcement is inconsistent and zero alcohol is strongly advised.
Warning triangle and hi-vis vest
Carry a reflective warning triangle and high-visibility vest in the vehicle; spare tyre, jack and basic toolkit are also expected at police checks.
Documents
Visa or e-visa before arrival
RequiredUK and most EU nationals must obtain an e-visa via evisa.gouv.bj before travel; land border officials will refuse entry without it.
Carte Brune (ECOWAS Brown Card) insurance
RequiredStandard European green card is not valid; buy a Carte Brune ECOWAS regional insurance certificate at the border or from a local insurer for roughly XOF 25,000-50,000 (EUR 38-76).
Carnet de Passage for own vehicle
RequiredBringing a foreign-registered car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane plus V5C/registration document; without it customs will impound the vehicle or charge a heavy temporary import deposit.
Yellow fever certificate
RecommendedProof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry and is routinely checked at land borders and Cotonou airport.
Emergency number 117 (police) / 118 (fire)
Good to knowDial 117 for police and 112 also routes to emergency services from mobiles; response outside Cotonou is slow so carry a charged phone and water.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left.
Speed limits 90/60/40 km/h
RequiredOpen roads 90 km/h, smaller rural roads 60 km/h, and built-up areas 40 km/h; there are no motorways in Benin.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
RequiredDrink-driving limit is 0.8 g/L of blood (0.08%), but enforcement is inconsistent and zero alcohol is strongly advised.
Avoid driving after dark
RecommendedFCDO and RAC advise against night driving outside Cotonou due to unlit roads, stray livestock, unmarked potholes, and a higher risk of armed robbery.
Zemidjan motorbike taxis dominate cities
Good to knowCotonou and Porto-Novo traffic is swarmed by yellow-shirted moto-taxis weaving between lanes; drive defensively and expect non-standard right-of-way.
Required equipment
Warning triangle and hi-vis vest
RequiredCarry a reflective warning triangle and high-visibility vest in the vehicle; spare tyre, jack and basic toolkit are also expected at police checks.
Tolls
Cash toll booths on RNIE roads
Good to knowToll gates (peages) on the Cotonou-Porto-Novo and Cotonou-Bohicon corridors charge roughly XOF 500-1,000 (EUR 0.75-1.50) per passage, paid in cash in CFA francs.
Vignette
No motorway vignette system
Good to knowBenin does not operate a vignette or e-toll sticker scheme; road use is paid only at the few physical toll booths.
Environment
Rainy season flooding June-October
RecommendedHeavy rains regularly wash out unpaved roads in the north (Atakora, Borgou) and cause flooding in Cotonou; a 4x4 is recommended outside the main paved corridor.
Harmattan dust December-February
Good to knowSahara dust haze sharply cuts visibility on northern routes in winter; keep headlights on and reduce speed.
Money
West African CFA franc, cash economy
Good to knowCurrency is XOF (pegged at EUR 1 = XOF 655.957); petrol stations and most businesses outside Cotonou hotels accept only cash, and informal roadside Nigerian smuggled fuel ('kpayo') sold in glass bottles should be avoided.
Fuel around EUR 1.00-1.20/L at official stations
Good to knowBranded stations (Total, Oryx) charge roughly XOF 700-800 per litre of petrol; cash declaration threshold at the border is XOF 1,000,000 (about EUR 1,525).
Plan your Benin road trip
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Don't get caught out
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Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left.
Speed limits 90/60/40 km/h
RequiredOpen roads 90 km/h, smaller rural roads 60 km/h, and built-up areas 40 km/h; there are no motorways in Benin.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
RequiredDrink-driving limit is 0.8 g/L of blood (0.08%), but enforcement is inconsistent and zero alcohol is strongly advised.