1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
RequiredEl Salvador recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your home licence and passport at all times.
FCDO travel advice← All country guides
Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in El Salvador
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into El Salvador: 8 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.
8
Required
3
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for El Salvador
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
El Salvador recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your home licence and passport at all times.
Source: FCDO travel advice →Tourist entry stamp doubles as 90-day driving permit
Visitors may drive on a foreign licence + IDP for the duration of their tourist stamp (up to 90 days CA-4 region); overstaying voids the permission.
Source: Entry rules →Local third-party insurance compulsory
UK/EU green cards are not valid; buy Salvadoran SOAT-equivalent liability cover from the rental firm or a local broker before driving.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, unlike the UK and Ireland.
Speed limits 90 / 60 / 40 km/h
Motorway/highway 90 km/h, rural roads 60 km/h, urban areas 40 km/h; school zones drop to 25 km/h.
BAC limit 0.05 g/100 mL (0.5 g/L)
Drink-driving is strictly enforced with roadside breath tests; penalties include arrest and vehicle impoundment.
Warning triangle and spare tyre mandatory
Vehicles must carry a reflective warning triangle, jack and serviceable spare wheel; rentals normally include these. Check before leaving the lot.
Declare cash over USD 10,000 at the border
Amounts of USD 10,000 or equivalent must be declared to customs on entry and exit; failure can result in seizure.
Documents
Tourist entry stamp doubles as 90-day driving permit
RequiredVisitors may drive on a foreign licence + IDP for the duration of their tourist stamp (up to 90 days CA-4 region); overstaying voids the permission.
Entry rulesLocal third-party insurance compulsory
RequiredUK/EU green cards are not valid; buy Salvadoran SOAT-equivalent liability cover from the rental firm or a local broker before driving.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, unlike the UK and Ireland.
Speed limits 90 / 60 / 40 km/h
RequiredMotorway/highway 90 km/h, rural roads 60 km/h, urban areas 40 km/h; school zones drop to 25 km/h.
BAC limit 0.05 g/100 mL (0.5 g/L)
RequiredDrink-driving is strictly enforced with roadside breath tests; penalties include arrest and vehicle impoundment.
Avoid driving after dark
RecommendedFCDO and rental firms advise against night driving outside San Salvador due to unlit roads, livestock, potholes and elevated crime risk.
FCDO safetyEmergency number 911
Good to knowDial 911 for police, ambulance or fire; English-speaking operators are not guaranteed outside the capital.
Accidents: do not move the vehicle
RecommendedAt any collision, leave vehicles in place and wait for the Policia Nacional Civil (transito): moving the car before they arrive can void insurance.
Required equipment
Warning triangle and spare tyre mandatory
RequiredVehicles must carry a reflective warning triangle, jack and serviceable spare wheel; rentals normally include these. Check before leaving the lot.
Tolls
Almost no toll roads
Good to knowOnly a handful of short toll segments exist (e.g. Carretera de Oro bypass) charging roughly USD 0.50–1.00 (about EUR 0.45–0.95) paid in cash at booths.
Vignette
No vignette or e-toll sticker required
Good to knowThere is no national motorway sticker scheme; you do not need to buy any windscreen vignette before driving.
Money
US dollar is legal tender
Good to knowThe currency is the US dollar (USD); Bitcoin is also legal tender but rarely used at fuel stations. Carry small-denomination USD notes for tolls, parking and tips.
Fuel around USD 1.05/L (approx. EUR 1.00/L)
Good to knowRegular unleaded sits near USD 4.00/gallon (about USD 1.05 per litre); pay attendants in cash or card and tip USD 0.25–0.50 if they clean the windscreen.
Declare cash over USD 10,000 at the border
RequiredAmounts of USD 10,000 or equivalent must be declared to customs on entry and exit; failure can result in seizure.
Environment
Rainy season May–October brings landslides
RecommendedMountain and coastal roads (notably around Ruta de las Flores and Cerro Verde) can flood or be blocked by mudslides; check conditions before setting off.
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Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, unlike the UK and Ireland.
Speed limits 90 / 60 / 40 km/h
RequiredMotorway/highway 90 km/h, rural roads 60 km/h, urban areas 40 km/h; school zones drop to 25 km/h.
BAC limit 0.05 g/100 mL (0.5 g/L)
RequiredDrink-driving is strictly enforced with roadside breath tests; penalties include arrest and vehicle impoundment.