UK/EU licence accepted for 90 days
RequiredA photocard licence in English is accepted for visits up to 90 days; longer stays require a 1949 IDP obtained before departure from the AA or RAC.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Namibia
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Namibia: 8 legal requirements + 9 other things worth knowing.
8
Required
4
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Namibia
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
UK/EU licence accepted for 90 days
A photocard licence in English is accepted for visits up to 90 days; longer stays require a 1949 IDP obtained before departure from the AA or RAC.
Passport with 6 months validity and 3 blank pages
Namibian immigration requires at least six months passport validity beyond your departure date and a minimum of three blank visa pages.
Cross-border letter for rental cars
If hiring a car in South Africa and driving into Namibia you must carry a notarised cross-border letter from the rental company plus the original registration; without it you will be turned back at the border.
Cross-Border Charge (CBC) on entry
All foreign-registered vehicles pay a one-off Cross-Border Charge of around N$390 (approx EUR 20) at the border post, valid for the visit.
Drive on the LEFT
Namibia drives on the left, same as the UK; most rental cars are manual right-hand drive.
Speed limits 120 / 100 / 60 km/h
120 km/h on tarred highways (B-roads), 100 km/h on gravel C-roads and D-roads, and 60 km/h in built-up areas; reduce sharply on gravel as rollovers are the No.1 cause of tourist deaths.
BAC limit 0.05 g/100ml
Drink-drive limit is 0.05% (0.5 g/L); police roadblocks are common and penalties include fines and jail.
No night driving outside towns
Do not drive between dusk and dawn on rural roads: kudu, oryx and warthog collisions are frequent and frequently fatal; rental insurance is often void after dark.
Documents
Passport with 6 months validity and 3 blank pages
RequiredNamibian immigration requires at least six months passport validity beyond your departure date and a minimum of three blank visa pages.
Cross-border letter for rental cars
RequiredIf hiring a car in South Africa and driving into Namibia you must carry a notarised cross-border letter from the rental company plus the original registration; without it you will be turned back at the border.
Cross-Border Charge (CBC) on entry
RequiredAll foreign-registered vehicles pay a one-off Cross-Border Charge of around N$390 (approx EUR 20) at the border post, valid for the visit.
Emergency number 112 (10111 police)
Good to knowDial 112 from any mobile for general emergencies, 10111 for police; response times outside Windhoek/Swakopmund are very slow.
Driving rules
Drive on the LEFT
RequiredNamibia drives on the left, same as the UK; most rental cars are manual right-hand drive.
Speed limits 120 / 100 / 60 km/h
Required120 km/h on tarred highways (B-roads), 100 km/h on gravel C-roads and D-roads, and 60 km/h in built-up areas; reduce sharply on gravel as rollovers are the No.1 cause of tourist deaths.
BAC limit 0.05 g/100ml
RequiredDrink-drive limit is 0.05% (0.5 g/L); police roadblocks are common and penalties include fines and jail.
Headlights on, seatbelts mandatory
RecommendedDaytime running lights are strongly advised on gravel roads for visibility, and seatbelts are compulsory for all occupants.
Tolls
No tolls or vignette system
Good to knowNamibia has no motorway tolls or vignette stickers; the Cross-Border Charge paid at entry is the only road-use fee.
Required equipment
Two spare tyres and recovery kit
RecommendedCarry two full-size spares, a tyre repair plug kit, jack, tow rope and a shovel; punctures on gravel C-roads are routine and recovery can be 100+ km away.
Water, fuel jerry can and satellite comms
RecommendedCarry at least 5 litres of drinking water per person per day, a 20L jerry can for long gravel stretches (e.g. Kaokoland, Damaraland), and a satellite messenger as mobile coverage vanishes outside towns.
Environment
No night driving outside towns
RequiredDo not drive between dusk and dawn on rural roads: kudu, oryx and warthog collisions are frequent and frequently fatal; rental insurance is often void after dark.
Flash floods in rainy season (Jan-Apr)
RecommendedDuring the green season many gravel roads and dry riverbeds (oshanas) flood without warning; check road status with NamPol or Namibia Roads Authority before crossing low-water bridges.
Money
Namibian Dollar pegged to ZAR
Good to knowCurrency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD), pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand which is also accepted everywhere; roughly N$20 = EUR 1.
Fuel approx EUR 1.10/L, cash only outside towns
Good to knowPetrol/diesel runs around N$22-24 per litre (~EUR 1.10); rural fuel stations do not accept cards, so carry N$1,000-2,000 cash and tip the pump attendant N$5-10.
Cash declaration over N$50,000
Good to knowAmounts above N$50,000 (approx EUR 2,500) must be declared to Namibian Customs on entry or exit.
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Drive on the LEFT
RequiredNamibia drives on the left, same as the UK; most rental cars are manual right-hand drive.
Speed limits 120 / 100 / 60 km/h
Required120 km/h on tarred highways (B-roads), 100 km/h on gravel C-roads and D-roads, and 60 km/h in built-up areas; reduce sharply on gravel as rollovers are the No.1 cause of tourist deaths.
BAC limit 0.05 g/100ml
RequiredDrink-drive limit is 0.05% (0.5 g/L); police roadblocks are common and penalties include fines and jail.