Driving Permit for Cape Verde

Cape Verde recognises the International Driving Permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so the 1968-format IDP is the version to carry on the islands. Most visitors can drive on their original licence for a limited period — UK photocard licences, for example, are accepted for up to 6 months — but official travel advice recommends carrying an IDP as well, and holders of paper licences or licences not printed in Latin script must pair them with a 1968 IDP. Take the paperwork seriously: driving without the proper documents in Cape Verde can lead to arrest, not just a fine.

Traffic drives on the right, as in mainland Portugal, and the rental market on Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago and Sao Vicente is where most visitors meet the rules in practice. Hire companies set their own conditions on top of the law: expect to show at least a year of driving experience, meet a minimum age higher than the legal driving age of 18, and in some cases present an IDP before the keys are handed over. Bring your original licence, passport and a credit card, and keep the rental's insurance paperwork in the car.

The islands have no motorway network; instead you will find narrow cobbled roads, winding mountain passes, stray livestock and streetlights that fail during power outages, with slippery surfaces and rockslides in the rainy season. Two rules stand out for tourists: a crash helmet is legally required on scooters and quad bikes (riding without one can also invalidate your insurance), and only officially marked taxis should be used — blue and yellow on Sal and Boa Vista, tan or cream elsewhere. Local drink-driving is a known hazard, so drive defensively on Sundays and holidays.