1949 Geneva IDP required
RequiredIndia recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, not the 1968 Vienna version: UK and EU drivers must obtain a 1949 IDP from their home authority before arrival, alongside their national licence and passport.
← All country guides
Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in India
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into India: 8 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.
8
Required
3
Recommended
4
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for India
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 Geneva IDP required
India recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, not the 1968 Vienna version: UK and EU drivers must obtain a 1949 IDP from their home authority before arrival, alongside their national licence and passport.
Third-party motor insurance mandatory
Third-party liability insurance is compulsory under the Motor Vehicles Act; rental vehicles include it but self-imports need a locally-issued policy as green cards are not valid.
Drive on the left
Traffic drives on the left like the UK, with right-hand-drive vehicles standard: overtake on the right.
Speed limits 100 / 80 / 50 km/h
Typical limits are 100–120 km/h on expressways, 80 km/h on national highways, and 50 km/h in urban areas, though state-by-state signage varies.
Zero-tolerance BAC 0.03 g/L
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.03 g/100 ml: effectively zero tolerance, with on-the-spot breath tests, heavy fines and possible imprisonment.
FASTag electronic toll on highways
All national highway toll plazas are cashless via the FASTag RFID sticker; rental cars come fitted, and tolls typically run INR 1.5–2.5 per km (roughly EUR 1.50–2.80 per 100 km).
Reflective triangle and first-aid kit
Vehicles must carry a warning triangle and basic first-aid kit; hi-vis vests are not mandated but recommended given frequent night-time roadside breakdowns.
Seatbelts and helmets
Front and rear seatbelts are compulsory and motorcycle helmets are mandatory for rider and pillion: fines apply for non-compliance.
Documents
Third-party motor insurance mandatory
RequiredThird-party liability insurance is compulsory under the Motor Vehicles Act; rental vehicles include it but self-imports need a locally-issued policy as green cards are not valid.
Carnet de Passage for own vehicle
RecommendedBringing a foreign-registered car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane plus V5C/proof of ownership, without it customs will impound the vehicle at the border.
Emergency number 112
Good to knowDial 112 for the unified emergency response, or 1033 for highway accident assistance on national highways.
Driving rules
Drive on the left
RequiredTraffic drives on the left like the UK, with right-hand-drive vehicles standard: overtake on the right.
Speed limits 100 / 80 / 50 km/h
RequiredTypical limits are 100–120 km/h on expressways, 80 km/h on national highways, and 50 km/h in urban areas, though state-by-state signage varies.
Zero-tolerance BAC 0.03 g/L
RequiredThe legal blood alcohol limit is 0.03 g/100 ml: effectively zero tolerance, with on-the-spot breath tests, heavy fines and possible imprisonment.
Hire a driver, do not self-drive
RecommendedThe FCDO and AA strongly advise against self-driving due to chaotic traffic, livestock on roads, and aggressive overtaking: hiring a car with driver is the norm and costs little more than self-hire.
Use horn constantly
Good to knowHorn use is expected to signal presence when overtaking or approaching blind bends: 'Horn OK Please' painted on trucks is an invitation to honk before passing.
Tolls
FASTag electronic toll on highways
RequiredAll national highway toll plazas are cashless via the FASTag RFID sticker; rental cars come fitted, and tolls typically run INR 1.5–2.5 per km (roughly EUR 1.50–2.80 per 100 km).
Required equipment
Reflective triangle and first-aid kit
RequiredVehicles must carry a warning triangle and basic first-aid kit; hi-vis vests are not mandated but recommended given frequent night-time roadside breakdowns.
Seatbelts and helmets
RequiredFront and rear seatbelts are compulsory and motorcycle helmets are mandatory for rider and pillion: fines apply for non-compliance.
Environment
Monsoon and Himalayan passes seasonal
RecommendedAvoid driving during monsoon (June–September) due to flooded roads and landslides; high Himalayan passes like Rohtang and Khardung La close roughly October–May with snow.
Emissions / low-emission zones
Delhi odd-even and PUC certificate
Good to knowAll vehicles need a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate; Delhi periodically imposes odd-even number-plate restrictions during severe smog, and old diesels (>10 yrs) are banned in NCR.
Money
Rupee, fuel ~EUR 1.10/L, cash for fuel
Good to knowCurrency is the Indian Rupee (INR); petrol costs roughly INR 100/litre (~EUR 1.10), most rural fuel stations prefer cash, and foreign currency over USD 5,000 must be declared at customs.
Plan your India 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 India.
Start planning →Popular destinations in India
Places to add to your India road trip.
Don't get caught out
Watch out for these
Drive on the left
RequiredTraffic drives on the left like the UK, with right-hand-drive vehicles standard: overtake on the right.
Speed limits 100 / 80 / 50 km/h
RequiredTypical limits are 100–120 km/h on expressways, 80 km/h on national highways, and 50 km/h in urban areas, though state-by-state signage varies.
Zero-tolerance BAC 0.03 g/L
RequiredThe legal blood alcohol limit is 0.03 g/100 ml: effectively zero tolerance, with on-the-spot breath tests, heavy fines and possible imprisonment.