FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti
Good to knowThe UK Foreign Office advises against all travel due to gang violence, kidnapping and civil unrest; self-drive is not realistic and most rental firms have suspended operations.
← All country guides
Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Haiti
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Haiti: 5 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.
5
Required
3
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Haiti
5 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
Haiti recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit, which must be carried with your home licence and passport.
Local third-party insurance mandatory
Green Card is not valid; you must buy local Haitian motor third-party liability insurance on arrival or via the rental agency.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right-hand side; overtake on the left.
Speed limits 50/60/80 km/h
Urban 50 km/h, rural 60 km/h, and a notional 80 km/h on the few open highways; in practice road conditions force much lower speeds.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
Blood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/L (0.8 g/L blood / 0.08%), but drink-driving enforcement is sporadic and accidents often turn into mob situations.
Documents
1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
RequiredHaiti recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit, which must be carried with your home licence and passport.
Local third-party insurance mandatory
RequiredGreen Card is not valid; you must buy local Haitian motor third-party liability insurance on arrival or via the rental agency.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right-hand side; overtake on the left.
Speed limits 50/60/80 km/h
RequiredUrban 50 km/h, rural 60 km/h, and a notional 80 km/h on the few open highways; in practice road conditions force much lower speeds.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
RequiredBlood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/L (0.8 g/L blood / 0.08%), but drink-driving enforcement is sporadic and accidents often turn into mob situations.
Never stop at the scene of an accident
RecommendedFCDO and embassy guidance is to drive to the nearest police station rather than stop, as crowds frequently attack drivers involved in collisions.
Do not drive after dark
RecommendedRoads are unlit, potholed and subject to carjackings and roadblocks; complete all journeys before nightfall.
Tolls
No motorway network or tolls
Good to knowHaiti has no motorways, no vignette system and no electronic tolls; the main RN1/RN2/RN3 routes are single-carriageway and free to use.
Required equipment
Carry spare fuel, water and a basic kit
RecommendedFuel shortages are routine; carry a jerrycan, spare tyre, drinking water, torch and a basic first-aid kit as service stations are unreliable outside Port-au-Prince.
Environment
Hurricane season June-November
Good to knowRoads, bridges and mountain passes are regularly washed out between June and November; check conditions before any inter-city trip.
Money
Currency HTG, fuel around EUR 1.10-1.30/L
Good to knowCurrency is the Haitian gourde (HTG); petrol typically costs 280-330 HTG per litre (about EUR 1.10-1.30), cash US dollars are widely accepted and cards rarely work outside major hotels.
Emergency number 114 (police)
Good to knowDial 114 for the Haitian National Police; response is unreliable, so register your travel with the FCDO and keep the British Embassy in Santo Domingo (which covers Haiti) contact details to hand.
Plan your Haiti 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 Haiti.
Start planning →Popular destinations in Haiti
Places to add to your Haiti road trip.
Don't get caught out
Watch out for these
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right-hand side; overtake on the left.
Speed limits 50/60/80 km/h
RequiredUrban 50 km/h, rural 60 km/h, and a notional 80 km/h on the few open highways; in practice road conditions force much lower speeds.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
RequiredBlood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/L (0.8 g/L blood / 0.08%), but drink-driving enforcement is sporadic and accidents often turn into mob situations.