South Africa licence 
BelizeCan you drive in Belize with a South Africa license?
Short answer: you can drive in Belize with a South Africa license; an International Driving Permit is recommended and is carried alongside your South Africa license.
An International Driving Permit is recommended (not strictly required) for South Africa licence holders driving in Belize. Your South Africa licence is in the Roman alphabet, but an IDP removes any doubt at rental desks and roadside checks. Carry both.
South African drivers should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their 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 Belize is like
The Hummingbird Highway between Belmopan and Dangriga, winding through jungle-clad Maya Mountain foothills, is widely rated Belize's most beautiful 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 55 mph highways. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your South Africa licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Belize can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to South Africa licence holders in Belize
| South Africa licence in Belize | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Recommended, not legally mandatory |
| IDP format required | 1949 Geneva |
| Your South Africa licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| South Africa is party to | 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 55 mph highways |
| Currency | BZD |
Driving rules in Belize you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Speed bumps in villages along the highways.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- 4x4 useful for jungle and unpaved roads.
Local driving facts in Belize
Emergency number: 911 (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 55 mph highways. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Belize
Belize has no toll highways, but vehicles crossing into or out of the country (e.g. at the western/Guatemala or northern/Mexico borders) pay border and bridge fees rather than road tolls.
Parking in Belize
Parking in Belize City is informal street parking with no major meter system; use guarded lots where possible, keep valuables out of sight and avoid leaving cars unattended on unlit streets at night.
Penalties & enforcement in Belize
Speed limits are about 55 mph on highways, 25 mph in towns and 15 mph residential, and seatbelts are mandatory; police enforce with fines, and rental firms recover any citations from the renter.
If you have an accident in Belize
Call police/emergency on 911, do not move the vehicles, photograph the scene and exchange details; a police report is needed for any rental insurance claim and you should also notify the rental company promptly.
City driving in Belize
Unusually for a Commonwealth country, Belize drives on the RIGHT like the US; on the George Price (Western) Highway out of Belize City you must pull onto the RIGHT shoulder and wait for traffic to clear before turning left, and watch for frequent speed bumps.
Winter driving in Belize
No winter-tyre rules - tropical climate
Fuel in Belize
Fuel is sold by the US gallon at attendant-served stations, with regular unleaded around BZ$11 (about US$5) per gallon, premium higher and diesel slightly cheaper; major cards are accepted in towns but carry cash for rural stations.
Sources: internationaldrivingpermit.org, centralamerica.com, belizehub.com, en.wikipedia.org