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Country driving guide · 2026

Driving in Honduras

Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Honduras: 9 legal requirements + 6 other things worth knowing.

9

Required

3

Recommended

3

Good to know

Tick before you go

Pre-departure checklist for Honduras

9 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.

  • Valid national licence plus 1949 IDP

    Honduras recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it alongside your UK/EU photocard licence. Tourists may drive on a foreign licence for up to 90 days.

  • Passport with 6 months validity

    Border officials require a passport valid at least 6 months beyond entry and may stamp a CA-4 visa (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua) good for up to 90 days.

  • Temporary vehicle import permit

    If bringing your own car you must obtain a free 30-day Permiso de Importacion Temporal from Aduanas at the border; overstaying triggers heavy fines and vehicle seizure risk.

  • Local third-party insurance

    Foreign insurance and green cards are not valid; buy compulsory Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil at the border or from a Honduran insurer before driving.

  • Drive on the right

    Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right turn on red is not permitted unless a sign expressly allows it.

  • Speed limits

    Motorway/highway 90 km/h, rural roads 60-70 km/h, urban areas 40 km/h, school zones 25 km/h. Limits are often poorly signed so default to caution.

  • Alcohol limit 0.07 g/L

    Blood alcohol limit is 0.07 g/100 mL (roughly 0.7 g/L); police run breath checks especially at weekends and penalties include detention.

  • Seatbelts and no handheld phones

    Front-seat belts are mandatory and handheld mobile use while driving is banned; fines are issued on the spot.

  • Warning triangle and spare tyre

    Vehicles must carry a reflective warning triangle, functional spare tyre, jack and basic tools; police checkpoints do inspect.

Documents

Valid national licence plus 1949 IDP

Required

Honduras recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it alongside your UK/EU photocard licence. Tourists may drive on a foreign licence for up to 90 days.

Passport with 6 months validity

Required

Border officials require a passport valid at least 6 months beyond entry and may stamp a CA-4 visa (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua) good for up to 90 days.

Temporary vehicle import permit

Required

If bringing your own car you must obtain a free 30-day Permiso de Importacion Temporal from Aduanas at the border; overstaying triggers heavy fines and vehicle seizure risk.

Local third-party insurance

Required

Foreign insurance and green cards are not valid; buy compulsory Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil at the border or from a Honduran insurer before driving.

Driving rules

Drive on the right

Required

Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right turn on red is not permitted unless a sign expressly allows it.

Speed limits

Required

Motorway/highway 90 km/h, rural roads 60-70 km/h, urban areas 40 km/h, school zones 25 km/h. Limits are often poorly signed so default to caution.

Alcohol limit 0.07 g/L

Required

Blood alcohol limit is 0.07 g/100 mL (roughly 0.7 g/L); police run breath checks especially at weekends and penalties include detention.

Seatbelts and no handheld phones

Required

Front-seat belts are mandatory and handheld mobile use while driving is banned; fines are issued on the spot.

Emergency number 911

Good to know

Dial 911 for police, ambulance and fire nationwide; response times outside major cities can be long, so consider a roadside assistance plan from your rental company.

Required equipment

Warning triangle and spare tyre

Required

Vehicles must carry a reflective warning triangle, functional spare tyre, jack and basic tools; police checkpoints do inspect.

Tolls

Few tolls, cash only

Good to know

Only a handful of toll booths exist (e.g. CA-5 between Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula); fees are roughly L20-40 (EUR 0.70-1.50) per booth, paid in lempiras cash. No vignette system exists.

Environment

FCDO security advisory

Recommended

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Gracias a Dios department and warns of carjackings and roadblocks elsewhere; avoid driving after dark and keep doors locked.

FCDO Honduras advice

Rainy season hazards

Recommended

From May to November landslides, washed-out bridges and flooded fords are common, especially on mountain roads and the north coast; a 4x4 is advised off the main highways.

Money

Currency and fuel prices

Good to know

Currency is the Honduran lempira (HNL); petrol costs around L110-120 per litre (about EUR 4.00-4.40) and diesel slightly less. Cash declaration required above USD 10,000 at the border.

Cash for fuel and tolls

Recommended

Carry lempiras in small notes for fuel stations outside cities, tolls and tips; pump attendants are customarily tipped L5-10. Cards are accepted in chain stations in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.

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Popular destinations in Honduras

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Don't get caught out

Watch out for these

Drive on the right

Required

Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right turn on red is not permitted unless a sign expressly allows it.

Speed limits

Required

Motorway/highway 90 km/h, rural roads 60-70 km/h, urban areas 40 km/h, school zones 25 km/h. Limits are often poorly signed so default to caution.

Alcohol limit 0.07 g/L

Required

Blood alcohol limit is 0.07 g/100 mL (roughly 0.7 g/L); police run breath checks especially at weekends and penalties include detention.

Seatbelts and no handheld phones

Required

Front-seat belts are mandatory and handheld mobile use while driving is banned; fines are issued on the spot.