1949 IDP required alongside national licence
RequiredPhilippines recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; UK/EU drivers must carry both their home licence and a 1949 IDP, valid for up to 90 days from arrival.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Philippines
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Philippines: 9 legal requirements + 6 other things worth knowing.
9
Required
1
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Philippines
9 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside national licence
Philippines recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; UK/EU drivers must carry both their home licence and a 1949 IDP, valid for up to 90 days from arrival.
Passport and visa stamp in the car
Carry your passport with the entry stamp at all times; police checkpoints (common on provincial roads) routinely ask tourists for ID.
Third-party insurance (CTPL) mandatory
All vehicles must have Compulsory Third Party Liability insurance; rental cars include it but verify the certificate is in the glovebox before driving off.
Drive on the RIGHT
Philippines drives on the right-hand side of the road: opposite to the UK, with left-hand-drive vehicles.
Speed limits: 100 / 80 / 30 km/h
Expressways 100 km/h, open highways 80 km/h, through streets 40 km/h and crowded/school zones 30 km/h; limits are strictly enforced on NLEX/SLEX.
BAC limit 0.05% (0.5 g/L)
Blood alcohol limit is 0.05% for private drivers and 0.0% for professional/PUV drivers under RA 10586; penalties include licence confiscation and jail time.
Seatbelts and no phone use
Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants; the Anti-Distracted Driving Act bans holding a phone while driving with fines from PHP 5,000.
RFID required on all expressways
NLEX, SLEX, CAVITEX, Skyway and STAR tollways are 100% cashless via Autosweep or Easytrip RFID stickers (free to install); expect roughly PHP 180-250 (EUR 3-4) per 100 km.
Early Warning Device (reflective triangle)
An Early Warning Device, a pair of reflective triangles: must be carried and deployed if you stop on a highway; rental cars are supplied with one.
Documents
Passport and visa stamp in the car
RequiredCarry your passport with the entry stamp at all times; police checkpoints (common on provincial roads) routinely ask tourists for ID.
Third-party insurance (CTPL) mandatory
RequiredAll vehicles must have Compulsory Third Party Liability insurance; rental cars include it but verify the certificate is in the glovebox before driving off.
Emergency number 911
Good to knowDial 911 nationwide for police, ambulance and fire; the Philippine Red Cross hotline is 143 and highway patrol is reachable via 117 in some areas.
Driving rules
Drive on the RIGHT
RequiredPhilippines drives on the right-hand side of the road: opposite to the UK, with left-hand-drive vehicles.
Speed limits: 100 / 80 / 30 km/h
RequiredExpressways 100 km/h, open highways 80 km/h, through streets 40 km/h and crowded/school zones 30 km/h; limits are strictly enforced on NLEX/SLEX.
BAC limit 0.05% (0.5 g/L)
RequiredBlood alcohol limit is 0.05% for private drivers and 0.0% for professional/PUV drivers under RA 10586; penalties include licence confiscation and jail time.
Seatbelts and no phone use
RequiredSeatbelts mandatory for all occupants; the Anti-Distracted Driving Act bans holding a phone while driving with fines from PHP 5,000.
Aggressive traffic and jeepneys
Good to knowLane discipline is loose, motorcycles filter on both sides, and jeepneys/tricycles stop unpredictably: defensive driving is essential, especially in Manila and Cebu.
Tolls
RFID required on all expressways
RequiredNLEX, SLEX, CAVITEX, Skyway and STAR tollways are 100% cashless via Autosweep or Easytrip RFID stickers (free to install); expect roughly PHP 180-250 (EUR 3-4) per 100 km.
Required equipment
Early Warning Device (reflective triangle)
RequiredAn Early Warning Device, a pair of reflective triangles: must be carried and deployed if you stop on a highway; rental cars are supplied with one.
Emissions / low-emission zones
Metro Manila number-coding scheme
Good to knowUnified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program bans cars from Metro Manila roads on one weekday based on plate's last digit (typically 7am-8pm); rental cars and tourists are not exempt.
Environment
Typhoon season June-November
RecommendedHeavy rain causes severe flooding in Metro Manila and landslides on mountain roads (Kennon, Halsema); check PAGASA weather and avoid driving during typhoon warnings.
Money
Philippine peso, fuel ~EUR 1.05/L
Good to knowCurrency is PHP; unleaded petrol roughly PHP 65/litre (~EUR 1.05) and diesel ~PHP 58/litre; major stations accept cards but rural pumps are cash-only.
Cash declaration over PHP 50,000
Good to knowDeclare amounts exceeding PHP 50,000 or USD 10,000 equivalent at customs on entry/exit; tipping fuel attendants PHP 20 is customary.
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Drive on the RIGHT
RequiredPhilippines drives on the right-hand side of the road: opposite to the UK, with left-hand-drive vehicles.
Speed limits: 100 / 80 / 30 km/h
RequiredExpressways 100 km/h, open highways 80 km/h, through streets 40 km/h and crowded/school zones 30 km/h; limits are strictly enforced on NLEX/SLEX.
BAC limit 0.05% (0.5 g/L)
RequiredBlood alcohol limit is 0.05% for private drivers and 0.0% for professional/PUV drivers under RA 10586; penalties include licence confiscation and jail time.
Seatbelts and no phone use
RequiredSeatbelts mandatory for all occupants; the Anti-Distracted Driving Act bans holding a phone while driving with fines from PHP 5,000.