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Country driving guide · 2026

Driving in Mozambique

Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Mozambique: 11 legal requirements + 6 other things worth knowing.

11

Required

3

Recommended

3

Good to know

Tick before you go

Pre-departure checklist for Mozambique

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

  • 1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence

    Mozambique recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; UK drivers must obtain the 1949 IDP from the Post Office (GBP 5.50) before travel as the 1968 Vienna permit is not accepted.

  • Passport with 6 months validity and 3 blank pages

    Border officials require at least 6 months remaining validity and three blank visa pages; most EU nationals get a 30-day visa on arrival, UK nationals also visa-free for up to 30 days since 2023.

  • Third-party insurance bought at the border

    Foreign vehicles must buy Mozambican third-party insurance (seguro de responsabilidade civil) at the border post; expect to pay around MZN 1,500-3,000 (EUR 22-45) for 30 days. UK green cards are not valid.

  • V5C and letter of authority for the vehicle

    Carry the original V5C registration document; if the car is financed or company-owned, a notarised letter of authority from the owner is required at the border.

  • Temporary Import Permit (TIP) at border

    A Termo de Importacao Temporaria must be obtained on entry for around MZN 500 (EUR 7); the form must be surrendered when you leave or you cannot exit with the car.

  • Two warning triangles and hi-vis vest

    Two red reflective triangles (not one) and a hi-vis vest are mandatory in the vehicle; police roadblocks routinely check and fines start at MZN 1,000 (EUR 15).

  • Reflective tape (ZA-style) on bumpers

    Vehicles must display white reflective tape on the front bumper and red on the rear, plus a yellow triangle if towing; sold for under MZN 300 at border-town garages.

  • Drive on the left

    Mozambique drives on the LEFT (a legacy of regional alignment with South Africa); UK/Irish drivers are at home but EU left-hand-drive cars need extra care at junctions and overtaking.

  • Speed limits 120 / 100 / 50 km/h

    Motorway/open road 120 km/h, rural roads 100 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h (often 40 km/h in villages); speed traps are heavily enforced on the EN1 with on-the-spot fines.

  • BAC limit 0.06 g/100ml (0.6 g/L)

    The drink-drive limit is 0.06 g/100ml; random breath tests are common at urban roadblocks and refusal is treated as a positive test.

  • Cash declaration over USD 10,000 equivalent

    Amounts above USD 10,000 (or equivalent in any currency) must be declared at the border; export of meticais is capped at MZN 10,000 per person.

Documents

1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence

Required

Mozambique recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; UK drivers must obtain the 1949 IDP from the Post Office (GBP 5.50) before travel as the 1968 Vienna permit is not accepted.

Passport with 6 months validity and 3 blank pages

Required

Border officials require at least 6 months remaining validity and three blank visa pages; most EU nationals get a 30-day visa on arrival, UK nationals also visa-free for up to 30 days since 2023.

Third-party insurance bought at the border

Required

Foreign vehicles must buy Mozambican third-party insurance (seguro de responsabilidade civil) at the border post; expect to pay around MZN 1,500-3,000 (EUR 22-45) for 30 days. UK green cards are not valid.

V5C and letter of authority for the vehicle

Required

Carry the original V5C registration document; if the car is financed or company-owned, a notarised letter of authority from the owner is required at the border.

Temporary Import Permit (TIP) at border

Required

A Termo de Importacao Temporaria must be obtained on entry for around MZN 500 (EUR 7); the form must be surrendered when you leave or you cannot exit with the car.

Required equipment

Two warning triangles and hi-vis vest

Required

Two red reflective triangles (not one) and a hi-vis vest are mandatory in the vehicle; police roadblocks routinely check and fines start at MZN 1,000 (EUR 15).

Reflective tape (ZA-style) on bumpers

Required

Vehicles must display white reflective tape on the front bumper and red on the rear, plus a yellow triangle if towing; sold for under MZN 300 at border-town garages.

Spare tyre, jack and basic toolkit

Recommended

Roadside assistance is effectively non-existent outside Maputo; carry a full-size spare, jack, wheel brace and ideally a second spare for trips north of the Save River.

Tolls

Cash tolls on EN1 and Maputo ring road

Good to know

The N4 from the South African border to Maputo and the Maputo-Catembe bridge use manned toll booths; expect MZN 200-220 (EUR 3) for the bridge and roughly MZN 100 per 100 km on tolled sections, cash only in meticais.

Driving rules

Drive on the left

Required

Mozambique drives on the LEFT (a legacy of regional alignment with South Africa); UK/Irish drivers are at home but EU left-hand-drive cars need extra care at junctions and overtaking.

Speed limits 120 / 100 / 50 km/h

Required

Motorway/open road 120 km/h, rural roads 100 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h (often 40 km/h in villages); speed traps are heavily enforced on the EN1 with on-the-spot fines.

BAC limit 0.06 g/100ml (0.6 g/L)

Required

The drink-drive limit is 0.06 g/100ml; random breath tests are common at urban roadblocks and refusal is treated as a positive test.

Do not drive after dark

Recommended

FCDO and AA strongly advise against driving outside cities after sunset due to unlit roads, pedestrians, livestock, broken-down trucks without reflectors and a higher armed-robbery risk.

Police roadblocks expect paperwork, not bribes

Good to know

Expect frequent roadblocks; produce IDP, passport, TIP and insurance calmly. Officially refuse requests for cash 'fines' without a written receipt: most checks are legitimate document inspections.

Environment

Cyclone season Nov-Apr floods main roads

Recommended

The EN1 north of Inchope and roads in Zambezia/Sofala regularly flood or wash out between November and April; check road status with Automovel e Touring Clube de Mocambique before long trips.

Money

Currency metical (MZN), fuel around EUR 1.10/L

Good to know

Currency is the Mozambican metical (MZN); petrol runs about MZN 76/L (EUR 1.10) and diesel MZN 68/L (EUR 0.98). Fuel stations are cash-only outside Maputo and attendants expect a MZN 20-50 tip.

Cash declaration over USD 10,000 equivalent

Required

Amounts above USD 10,000 (or equivalent in any currency) must be declared at the border; export of meticais is capped at MZN 10,000 per person.

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Drive on the left

Required

Mozambique drives on the LEFT (a legacy of regional alignment with South Africa); UK/Irish drivers are at home but EU left-hand-drive cars need extra care at junctions and overtaking.

Speed limits 120 / 100 / 50 km/h

Required

Motorway/open road 120 km/h, rural roads 100 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h (often 40 km/h in villages); speed traps are heavily enforced on the EN1 with on-the-spot fines.

BAC limit 0.06 g/100ml (0.6 g/L)

Required

The drink-drive limit is 0.06 g/100ml; random breath tests are common at urban roadblocks and refusal is treated as a positive test.