International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva)
RequiredUK/EU licence alone is not accepted for non-residents; carry a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP alongside your home licence. Brunei is not a 1968 Vienna signatory.
FCDO Brunei travel advice← All country guides
Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Brunei
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Brunei: 7 legal requirements + 9 other things worth knowing.
7
Required
3
Recommended
6
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Brunei
7 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva)
UK/EU licence alone is not accepted for non-residents; carry a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP alongside your home licence. Brunei is not a 1968 Vienna signatory.
Source: FCDO Brunei travel advice →Passport with 6 months validity
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry; UK passport holders get 90 days visa-free.
Vehicle insurance valid for Brunei
Third-party motor insurance is compulsory; rental agencies include it but verify the policy explicitly covers Brunei (not just Malaysia).
Drive on the LEFT
Brunei drives on the left-hand side of the road, same as the UK; right-hand-drive vehicles are the norm.
Speed limits in km/h
Urban areas 50 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, and the Muara-Tutong highway / expressways up to 100 km/h. Speed cameras are active around Bandar Seri Begawan.
Zero alcohol: strict Sharia law
BAC limit is effectively 0.00 g/L; alcohol is banned for Muslims and heavily restricted for non-Muslims, and drink-driving carries severe penalties including caning and imprisonment.
Seatbelts and no mobile phones
Front and rear seatbelts compulsory; handheld phone use while driving is illegal and fined. Children under 135 cm require a child seat.
Documents
Passport with 6 months validity
RequiredPassport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry; UK passport holders get 90 days visa-free.
Vehicle insurance valid for Brunei
RequiredThird-party motor insurance is compulsory; rental agencies include it but verify the policy explicitly covers Brunei (not just Malaysia).
Carnet / V5C if bringing own car overland
RecommendedIf driving in from Malaysia (Sarawak), carry the V5C logbook or carnet de passage plus the original insurance certificate for the four border checkpoints.
Driving rules
Drive on the LEFT
RequiredBrunei drives on the left-hand side of the road, same as the UK; right-hand-drive vehicles are the norm.
Speed limits in km/h
RequiredUrban areas 50 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, and the Muara-Tutong highway / expressways up to 100 km/h. Speed cameras are active around Bandar Seri Begawan.
Zero alcohol: strict Sharia law
RequiredBAC limit is effectively 0.00 g/L; alcohol is banned for Muslims and heavily restricted for non-Muslims, and drink-driving carries severe penalties including caning and imprisonment.
Seatbelts and no mobile phones
RequiredFront and rear seatbelts compulsory; handheld phone use while driving is illegal and fined. Children under 135 cm require a child seat.
Emergency number 993 (police) / 991 (ambulance)
Good to knowPolice 993, ambulance 991, fire 995. Roads are well-maintained and traffic is light outside Bandar Seri Begawan.
Vignette
No vignette or motorway toll system
Good to knowBrunei has no vignette, e-toll, or pay-per-use road charge: all roads including the Temburong Bridge are free to use for passenger cars.
Tolls
Border checkpoint fees only
Good to knowNo motorway tolls inside Brunei; expect only a small exit/entry fee (around BND 3, roughly EUR 2) at land borders with Malaysia.
Emissions / low-emission zones
No low-emission zones
Good to knowBrunei has no LEZ or environmental sticker scheme; older diesels and petrol cars enter freely.
Money
Currency BND, fuel extremely cheap
Good to knowBrunei dollar (BND), pegged 1:1 to the Singapore dollar (both accepted). Petrol RON95 costs around BND 0.53/litre (about EUR 0.36): among the cheapest in the world. Cash declaration threshold BND 15,000.
Foreigners pay premium fuel price
RecommendedSubsidised pump prices apply only to Brunei-registered vehicles; foreign-plated cars pay the unsubsidised rate (around BND 1.00/litre, ~EUR 0.68). Pay at kiosk, card widely accepted, no tipping.
Required equipment
No mandatory in-car kit
RecommendedNo legal requirement for warning triangle, hi-vis vest, or first-aid kit, but a spare tyre and basic kit are sensible for the Temburong rainforest stretch.
Environment
Tropical rain and flash floods
Good to knowMonsoon downpours (Oct-Jan) cause sudden flooding and reduced visibility; no winter-tyre or snow regulations apply.
Plan your Brunei road trip
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Drive on the LEFT
RequiredBrunei drives on the left-hand side of the road, same as the UK; right-hand-drive vehicles are the norm.
Speed limits in km/h
RequiredUrban areas 50 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, and the Muara-Tutong highway / expressways up to 100 km/h. Speed cameras are active around Bandar Seri Begawan.
Zero alcohol: strict Sharia law
RequiredBAC limit is effectively 0.00 g/L; alcohol is banned for Muslims and heavily restricted for non-Muslims, and drink-driving carries severe penalties including caning and imprisonment.
Seatbelts and no mobile phones
RequiredFront and rear seatbelts compulsory; handheld phone use while driving is illegal and fined. Children under 135 cm require a child seat.