Limited self-drive infrastructure
Good to knowSolomon Islands has very few rental car operators outside Honiara, no motorway network, and most inter-island travel is by boat or plane rather than road.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Solomon Islands
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Solomon Islands: 5 legal requirements + 9 other things worth knowing.
5
Required
3
Recommended
6
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Solomon Islands
5 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP plus home licence
Solomon Islands recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it together with your UK/EU photocard licence and passport.
Drive on the left
Traffic drives on the left, the same as the UK, which suits UK drivers but EU drivers should take extra care.
Speed limits 50/60 km/h
Urban limit is 50 km/h (often 30-40 km/h through Honiara), rural roads 60 km/h; there are no motorways.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
Blood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/L (80 mg/100 ml), the same as England; police roadblocks operate around Honiara at weekends.
Third-party insurance compulsory
Compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance is included with vehicle registration; rental contracts cover this but check excess and confirm cover for unsealed roads.
Documents
1949 IDP plus home licence
RequiredSolomon Islands recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it together with your UK/EU photocard licence and passport.
Third-party insurance compulsory
RequiredCompulsory third-party (CTP) insurance is included with vehicle registration; rental contracts cover this but check excess and confirm cover for unsealed roads.
FCDO travel advice
RecommendedCheck UK FCDO advice before travel for the latest on civil unrest in Honiara (notably around Chinatown) and avoid driving through protests.
FCDO adviceDriving rules
Drive on the left
RequiredTraffic drives on the left, the same as the UK, which suits UK drivers but EU drivers should take extra care.
Speed limits 50/60 km/h
RequiredUrban limit is 50 km/h (often 30-40 km/h through Honiara), rural roads 60 km/h; there are no motorways.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
RequiredBlood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/L (80 mg/100 ml), the same as England; police roadblocks operate around Honiara at weekends.
Poor road conditions outside Honiara
RecommendedOutside the capital most roads are unsealed, potholed and prone to washouts; a 4x4 is strongly advised and night driving should be avoided due to unlit roads, stray dogs and pedestrians.
Emergency number 999
Good to knowDial 999 for police, fire and ambulance; response outside Honiara is very limited so carry a charged phone, water and a basic first-aid kit.
Vignette
No vignette or tolls
Good to knowThere is no motorway sticker, e-vignette or toll road system anywhere in the country.
Money
Solomon Islands Dollar, cash economy
Good to knowCurrency is the Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD); petrol costs roughly SBD 12-14 per litre (about EUR 1.30-1.55) and most fuel stations and rural businesses take cash only.
Cash declaration SBD 50,000
Good to knowAmounts above SBD 50,000 (around EUR 5,500) must be declared at the border; ATMs are limited to Honiara, Auki and Gizo.
Environment
Cyclone season Nov-Apr
RecommendedTropical cyclone and heavy-rain season runs November to April, regularly washing out bridges and coastal roads on Guadalcanal and Malaita.
Inter-island travel by boat
Good to knowThere are no road links between islands; vehicles move on landing-craft ferries which run irregularly and are weather-dependent.
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Drive on the left
RequiredTraffic drives on the left, the same as the UK, which suits UK drivers but EU drivers should take extra care.
Speed limits 50/60 km/h
RequiredUrban limit is 50 km/h (often 30-40 km/h through Honiara), rural roads 60 km/h; there are no motorways.
BAC limit 0.08 g/L
RequiredBlood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/L (80 mg/100 ml), the same as England; police roadblocks operate around Honiara at weekends.