Australia licence 
AfghanistanCan you drive in Afghanistan with an Australia license?
Short answer: to drive in Afghanistan with an Australia license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format, carried together with your Australia license.
Yes — to drive in Afghanistan on an Australia licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your Australia licence. Afghanistan expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.
Australian drivers should carry an International Driving Permit (1949 Convention) alongside their state licence when driving abroad. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva format and carried alongside your national licence.
What driving in Afghanistan is like
The Salang Pass tunnel and highway through the Hindu Kush is the country's most famous and dramatic drive. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 90 km/h highways. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your Australia licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Afghanistan can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to Australia licence holders in Afghanistan
| Australia licence in Afghanistan | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Yes — carry one alongside your licence |
| IDP format required | 1949 Geneva |
| Your Australia licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| Australia is party to | 1949 Geneva |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 119 (police) |
| Top speed limit | 90 km/h highways |
| Currency | AFN |
Driving rules in Afghanistan you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
- Checkpoints are frequent.
- Drive defensively on poorly maintained roads.
Local driving facts in Afghanistan
Emergency number: 119 (police) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 90 km/h highways. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Afghanistan
There is no organised national electronic toll or vignette system for tourists; some highway sections and bridges levy informal or cash road charges collected at checkpoints. Travel is otherwise overshadowed by security checkpoints rather than tolls.
Parking in Afghanistan
There are no formal paid-zone or app-based urban parking systems; parking is informal and unmetered, typically guarded by attendants paid a small cash tip. Vehicles are best left in attended lots or hotel compounds for security.
Penalties & enforcement in Afghanistan
Traffic enforcement is informal and fines are typically settled in cash on the spot to police; there is no reliable centralised camera-fine system. Foreign drivers face far greater risk from security incidents than from formal penalties.
If you have an accident in Afghanistan
After any crash do not move the vehicles and contact local police, though emergency response is unreliable; the 119 line is the nominal police number. A police report is needed for insurance and to pass checkpoints, but for safety travellers are advised to involve their embassy and a local fixer immediately.
City driving in Afghanistan
In Kabul, traffic is chaotic and dominated by checkpoints and frequent security cordons that can close roads without warning, so a local driver who knows current restrictions is essential. Right-of-way is effectively by assertion at unmarked junctions.
Winter driving in Afghanistan
Winter snow and ice are common on high mountain passes such as the Salang; snow chains and a 4x4 are strongly advised in winter, though there is no codified winter-tyre law with fixed dates.
Fuel in Afghanistan
Petrol and diesel are sold mainly at small roadside stations, often dispensed by attendants, and fuel quality is variable. Payment is cash only (afghani) as card acceptance is virtually nonexistent; keep the tank full because stations are sparse between towns.
Sources: internationaldrivingpermit.org, adcidl.com, traveldocsonline.com