Driving Permit for Brunei
Driving in Brunei with a foreign licence: traffic drives on the left, home licences are valid for up to 90 days, and a 1949-convention IDP is the standard companion document for visiting drivers in Brunei.
- Drive on
- Left
- Convention
- 1949 Geneva
- IDP validity
- 90 days
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Brunei?
Brunei Darussalam recognises the International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. In practice, visitors can drive on a valid home-country licence for short stays — UK government guidance, for example, puts the window at up to 90 days — and Canadian government advice recommends carrying an IDP alongside it. Staying longer? Licences issued by other Geneva Convention countries can be converted to a Brunei permit that can be used for up to one year.
Hiring a car is the easiest way to explore the sultanate: rental desks cluster in Bandar Seri Begawan and at Brunei International Airport, vehicles are right-hand drive, and traffic keeps to the left, as in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore. Agents will want to see your original licence, and an IDP is the standard companion document — effectively essential if your licence isn't printed in English. Traffic is light by regional standards, and heavily subsidised fuel makes Brunei one of the cheapest places in Asia to drive.
A few local realities stand out. Alcohol isn't sold anywhere in the country, and driving under the influence is treated severely — treat the limit as zero. If you're involved in an accident, do not leave the scene or move your vehicle until police arrive. Road conditions are generally good, but official advisories warn that speeding, red-light running and distracted driving are common, and wildlife — from monkeys to monitor lizards — can wander onto rural roads. Many visitors also drive across the border to Miri in Malaysian Sarawak; carry your passport and vehicle documents for the checkpoints.
Brunei recognises the IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Brunei is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Brunei, plan on 90 days.
What you need to drive in Brunei
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Original valid driving licence from your home country
International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva Convention) recommended alongside your licence
Foreign licences are typically accepted for up to 90 days; longer stays require converting to a Brunei licence
Motor insurance (third-party at minimum) is compulsory
Traffic drives on the left and nearly all vehicles, including rentals, are right-hand drive — the same setup as neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore
Fuel is heavily subsidised and among the cheapest in Southeast Asia, though foreign-registered vehicles must pay a higher, unsubsidised rate
The sale of alcohol is illegal throughout Brunei, so drink-driving enforcement is effectively zero-tolerance
Canadian government travel advice describes road conditions and road safety as good throughout the country
Holders of licences from 1949 Geneva Convention countries can convert them to a Brunei permit usable for up to one year
It is an offence to leave the scene of an accident or move your vehicle before police arrive
What to know before you turn the key
Brunei drives on the left — the driver sits on the right, and roundabouts flow clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Rental desks in Bandar Seri Begawan and at the airport will ask for your original licence; an IDP is the standard companion document, especially if your licence isn't printed in English
Alcohol is not sold anywhere in Brunei and drink-driving is treated severely — treat the limit as zero
If you have an accident, do not leave the scene or move the vehicle until police arrive
Brunei enforces traffic law strictly. Speeding and red-light offences attract fines, and leaving the scene of an accident before police arrive is itself an offence. With alcohol sales banned nationwide, driving under the influence is treated severely — treat the limit as zero.
Local rules to watch in Brunei
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Bandar Seri Begawan: the capital is the country's main rental hub, served by Brunei International Airport, with light traffic by Southeast Asian standards
Kuala Belait and Seria: the coastal highway west to the oil towns is an easy drive and continues to the Malaysian border crossing for Miri, Sarawak
Temburong: the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge links Bandar Seri Begawan directly to the once-isolated Temburong district, so you no longer need to transit Malaysia
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Brunei keeps.
Common questions about driving in Brunei
Drive Brunei, confidently.
Apply online in minutes and get instant digital access to your IDP translation — with an IDP PVC card option if you want one in your wallet.