Country driving guide · 2026

Driving in Senegal

Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Senegal: 9 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.

Required

Recommended

Good to know

Tick before you go

Pre-departure checklist for Senegal

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

1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
Senegal recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your home licence and passport at all times.
Passport with 6 months validity and visa check
UK and most EU passport holders get visa-free entry up to 90 days, but the passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival.
Carte Brune (CEDEAO Brown Card) insurance
European green cards are NOT valid; buy the ECOWAS Brown Card third-party insurance at the border or in Dakar, roughly XOF 25,000-50,000 (EUR 40-75) for a short stay.
Carnet de Passage for own vehicle
Bringing your own car overland requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane or a temporary import permit (Passavant) issued at the border, plus the V5C original.
Warning triangle and hi-vis vest
Two warning triangles and a reflective vest must be carried; spare bulbs and a basic first-aid kit are strongly expected at checkpoints.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left; right-hand-drive UK cars are legal but visibility for overtaking is poor.
Speed limits 90/70/50 km/h, motorway 110
Urban 50 km/h, rural 90 km/h, and the A1 autoroute 110 km/h; limits drop sharply through villages and are heavily enforced by gendarmerie.
Blood alcohol limit 0.2 g/L
Senegal applies a near-zero tolerance BAC of 0.2 g/L; penalties include fines, licence confiscation and possible detention.
Cash declaration over XOF 5 million at border
Amounts equivalent to XOF 5,000,000 (around EUR 7,600) or more must be declared to customs on entry and exit.

Documents

1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence

Required

Senegal recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your home licence and passport at all times.

Passport with 6 months validity and visa check

Required

UK and most EU passport holders get visa-free entry up to 90 days, but the passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival.

Carte Brune (CEDEAO Brown Card) insurance

Required

European green cards are NOT valid; buy the ECOWAS Brown Card third-party insurance at the border or in Dakar, roughly XOF 25,000-50,000 (EUR 40-75) for a short stay.

Carnet de Passage for own vehicle

Required

Bringing your own car overland requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane or a temporary import permit (Passavant) issued at the border, plus the V5C original.

Yellow fever vaccination certificate

Recommended

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry and may be checked at the land border or airport.

Emergency number 17 (police) / 18 (fire)

Good to know

Dial 17 for police/gendarmerie and 18 for fire and ambulance; response outside Dakar can be very slow.

Required equipment

Warning triangle and hi-vis vest

Required

Two warning triangles and a reflective vest must be carried; spare bulbs and a basic first-aid kit are strongly expected at checkpoints.

Tolls

Autoroute de l'Avenir toll motorway

Good to know

The A1 Dakar-Diamniadio-AIBD-Thies motorway uses ticket-and-pay toll booths; the full Dakar to AIBD airport run costs around XOF 3,200 (EUR 5), payable in cash CFA or by Senpeage tag.

Driving rules

Drive on the right

Required

Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left; right-hand-drive UK cars are legal but visibility for overtaking is poor.

Speed limits 90/70/50 km/h, motorway 110

Required

Urban 50 km/h, rural 90 km/h, and the A1 autoroute 110 km/h; limits drop sharply through villages and are heavily enforced by gendarmerie.

Blood alcohol limit 0.2 g/L

Required

Senegal applies a near-zero tolerance BAC of 0.2 g/L; penalties include fines, licence confiscation and possible detention.

Avoid driving after dark

Recommended

FCDO and RAC advise against night driving outside Dakar due to unlit roads, stray livestock, broken-down lorries and informal checkpoints.

Environment

Rainy season flooding July-October

Good to know

The hivernage rainy season floods unpaved roads in Casamance and the interior; a 4x4 is needed off the main N1/N2 corridors.

Casamance via The Gambia routing

Good to know

Reaching Casamance overland means transiting The Gambia or using the Farafenni or Senegambia bridge; the Ziguinchor ferry from Dakar is the alternative.

Money

West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to EUR

Good to know

Currency is the XOF, fixed at 655.957 to EUR 1; cash is essential outside Dakar and at fuel stations, and small CFA notes are needed for tolls and checkpoints.

Fuel around EUR 1.40-1.60 per litre

Good to know

Petrol (essence) and diesel (gasoil) cost roughly XOF 925-1,050 per litre; tipping the pump attendant XOF 100-200 is normal.

Cash declaration over XOF 5 million at border

Required

Amounts equivalent to XOF 5,000,000 (around EUR 7,600) or more must be declared to customs on entry and exit.

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Popular destinations in Senegal

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Don't get caught out

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Drive on the right

Required

Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left; right-hand-drive UK cars are legal but visibility for overtaking is poor.

Speed limits 90/70/50 km/h, motorway 110

Required

Urban 50 km/h, rural 90 km/h, and the A1 autoroute 110 km/h; limits drop sharply through villages and are heavily enforced by gendarmerie.

Blood alcohol limit 0.2 g/L

Required

Senegal applies a near-zero tolerance BAC of 0.2 g/L; penalties include fines, licence confiscation and possible detention.