Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Micronesia: 5 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.
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Tick before you go
5 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Valid national licence plus 1949 IDP
FM recognises foreign licences for short stays but local rental agencies typically require a 1949 Geneva-Convention International Driving Permit alongside your UK/EU photocard; the 1968 Vienna IDP is not the standard here.
Passport with onward ticket
UK and EU nationals get 30 days visa-free on arrival but must show a passport valid for the stay and proof of onward travel.
Drive on the RIGHT
Traffic keeps to the right-hand side of the road despite many imported right-hand-drive Japanese used cars being in circulation.
Very low speed limits
Urban speed limit is typically 25 mph (around 40 km/h) and rural roads 35 mph (around 56 km/h); there are no motorways and road surfaces deteriorate quickly off the main loops.
Strict alcohol rules
Driving under the influence is prohibited and Chuuk State is legally dry: alcohol is banned outright, so the safe BAC is 0.00 g/L.
The Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae) has no motorways, no rental-car chains on most islands, and very limited paved road networks; most visitors hire a local car or taxi rather than drive themselves.
FM recognises foreign licences for short stays but local rental agencies typically require a 1949 Geneva-Convention International Driving Permit alongside your UK/EU photocard; the 1968 Vienna IDP is not the standard here.
UK and EU nationals get 30 days visa-free on arrival but must show a passport valid for the stay and proof of onward travel.
Dial 911 for police, fire and ambulance on all four states; response times and medical capability are very limited, so serious cases are evacuated to Guam or Honolulu.
Traffic keeps to the right-hand side of the road despite many imported right-hand-drive Japanese used cars being in circulation.
Urban speed limit is typically 25 mph (around 40 km/h) and rural roads 35 mph (around 56 km/h); there are no motorways and road surfaces deteriorate quickly off the main loops.
Driving under the influence is prohibited and Chuuk State is legally dry: alcohol is banned outright, so the safe BAC is 0.00 g/L.
Expect sudden heavy rain, potholes, unlit roads after dark, and dogs, pigs and children on the carriageway; avoid driving at night outside Kolonia or Weno.
FM uses the US Dollar (USD); roughly 1 EUR = 1.08 USD. Carry small bills as ATMs are scarce outside Pohnpei and Kosrae.
Petrol runs roughly USD 1.30–1.60 per litre (around EUR 1.20–1.50/L) and most fuel stations, shops and guesthouses accept cash only: tipping is not expected.
There is no legal requirement for hi-vis, triangle or first-aid kit, but spare tyres and basic tools are essential as breakdown services are effectively non-existent.
There are no toll roads, electronic toll systems or motorway vignettes anywhere in the FSM.
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Don't get caught out
Traffic keeps to the right-hand side of the road despite many imported right-hand-drive Japanese used cars being in circulation.
Urban speed limit is typically 25 mph (around 40 km/h) and rural roads 35 mph (around 56 km/h); there are no motorways and road surfaces deteriorate quickly off the main loops.
Driving under the influence is prohibited and Chuuk State is legally dry: alcohol is banned outright, so the safe BAC is 0.00 g/L.