FCDO: see and follow current travel advice
Good to knowFCDO advises caution; entry rules are strict and visas are required for most UK/EU nationals. Check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/equatorial-guinea before booking.
FCDO travel advice← All country guides
Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Equatorial Guinea
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Equatorial Guinea: 7 legal requirements + 10 other things worth knowing.
7
Required
2
Recommended
8
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Equatorial Guinea
7 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP alongside national licence
Equatorial Guinea recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; carry it together with your UK/EU photocard licence and passport at all times.
Source: IDP info →Passport, visa and yellow fever certificate
Most UK/EU visitors need a visa obtained in advance and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry: police checkpoints will ask to see all three.
Source: Entry requirements →Local third-party insurance
UK/EU green cards are not valid; buy local third-party motor insurance from a Malabo or Bata insurer or via the car rental agency before driving.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, as in mainland Europe.
Speed limits 120 / 90 / 50 km/h
Typical limits are 120 km/h on the few dual carriageways, 90 km/h on rural roads and 50 km/h in towns; unsignposted village zones drop to 40 km/h.
BAC alcohol limit 0.5 g/L
The blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/L (0.05%); enforcement at police checkpoints is unpredictable and penalties include detention.
Declare cash over 1,000,000 XAF at the border
Amounts over 1,000,000 XAF (~1,525 EUR) must be declared on entry and exit; undeclared foreign currency can be confiscated.
Documents
1949 IDP alongside national licence
RequiredEquatorial Guinea recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; carry it together with your UK/EU photocard licence and passport at all times.
IDP infoPassport, visa and yellow fever certificate
RequiredMost UK/EU visitors need a visa obtained in advance and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry: police checkpoints will ask to see all three.
Entry requirementsLocal third-party insurance
RequiredUK/EU green cards are not valid; buy local third-party motor insurance from a Malabo or Bata insurer or via the car rental agency before driving.
Emergency number 112 (police 114)
Good to knowDial 112 for general emergencies or 114 for police; response times are slow and English is rarely spoken: Spanish or French is far more useful.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, as in mainland Europe.
Speed limits 120 / 90 / 50 km/h
RequiredTypical limits are 120 km/h on the few dual carriageways, 90 km/h on rural roads and 50 km/h in towns; unsignposted village zones drop to 40 km/h.
BAC alcohol limit 0.5 g/L
RequiredThe blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/L (0.05%); enforcement at police checkpoints is unpredictable and penalties include detention.
Frequent police and military checkpoints
Good to knowExpect multiple armed checkpoints per journey, especially on the Malabo–Luba and Bata–Mongomo roads; stay calm, hand over documents, never photograph the checkpoint.
Safety adviceRequired equipment
Warning triangle and hi-vis vest
RecommendedCarry a reflective warning triangle and hi-vis vest in the cabin; while not strictly enforced they are standard practice and useful given poor lighting and frequent breakdowns.
Tolls
No motorway tolls or vignette
Good to knowThere are no motorway tolls, e-vignettes or sticker systems; all roads including the new Mongomo and Djibloho highways are free to use.
Emissions / low-emission zones
No low-emission zones
Good to knowMalabo and Bata have no LEZ, congestion charge or emissions sticker scheme.
Environment
Wet-season road damage May–October
RecommendedTropical rains between May and October wash out unpaved roads on Bioko and inland Río Muni; a 4x4 with good tyres is strongly recommended off the main paved network.
Bioko and the mainland are separate
Good to knowBioko Island (Malabo) and the mainland Río Muni region (Bata) are not road-connected; vehicles move between them only by ferry or by re-renting on arrival.
Money
Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Good to knowThe currency is the CFA franc BEAC, pegged at roughly 656 XAF = 1 EUR; carry euros in cash to exchange as ATMs are scarce outside Malabo and Bata.
Fuel around 0.90 EUR/L, cash only
Good to knowPetrol costs roughly 600 XAF (~0.90 EUR) per litre and stations outside the two main cities accept only CFA cash; fill up whenever you can.
Declare cash over 1,000,000 XAF at the border
RequiredAmounts over 1,000,000 XAF (~1,525 EUR) must be declared on entry and exit; undeclared foreign currency can be confiscated.
Plan your Equatorial Guinea road trip
We'll build the itinerary, estimate fuel + tolls, and show EV chargers along the route, and this checklist appears automatically on every trip that crosses into Equatorial Guinea.
Start planning →Popular destinations in Equatorial Guinea
Places to add to your Equatorial Guinea road trip.
Don't get caught out
Watch out for these
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, as in mainland Europe.
Speed limits 120 / 90 / 50 km/h
RequiredTypical limits are 120 km/h on the few dual carriageways, 90 km/h on rural roads and 50 km/h in towns; unsignposted village zones drop to 40 km/h.
BAC alcohol limit 0.5 g/L
RequiredThe blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/L (0.05%); enforcement at police checkpoints is unpredictable and penalties include detention.