UK licence 
Cape VerdeCan you drive in Cape Verde with a UK license?
Short answer: you can drive in Cape Verde with a UK license; an International Driving Permit is recommended and is carried alongside your UK license.
An International Driving Permit is recommended (not strictly required) for UK licence holders driving in Cape Verde. Your UK licence is in the Roman alphabet, but an IDP removes any doubt at rental desks and roadside checks. Carry both.
UK drivers should carry an International Driving Permit with their licence; some countries recognise the 1949 version and others the 1968 version. 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 Cape Verde is like
The cobbled mountain road climbing into the crater of Pico do Fogo volcano on Fogo island, passing the wine village of Cha das Caldeiras, is the country's signature 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 open roads. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your UK licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Cape Verde can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to UK licence holders in Cape Verde
| UK licence in Cape Verde | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Recommended, not legally mandatory |
| IDP format required | 1949 Geneva |
| Your UK licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| United Kingdom is party to | 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 132 (police), 130 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 90 km/h open roads |
| Currency | CVE |
Driving rules in Cape Verde you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Steep, cobbled island roads.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
Local driving facts in Cape Verde
Emergency number: 132 (police), 130 (ambulance) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 90 km/h open roads. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Cape Verde
Cape Verde has no toll roads or vignette system; all inter-town and island roads are free to use. Inter-island travel is by ferry or plane rather than road, so no road charges apply.
Parking in Cape Verde
Outside busy areas parking is generally free; in Praia, Mindelo, Santa Maria and on Sal/Boa Vista there are regulated paid public and private zones and parking is tight, so plan ahead. Informal attendants may expect a small tip to watch your car.
Penalties & enforcement in Cape Verde
Urban speed limit is 50 km/h and 80 km/h on open roads; police issue on-the-spot fines for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use, payable in escudos. Rental firms recover any unpaid fines from the card on file.
If you have an accident in Cape Verde
Call police on 132 (national emergency 112; ambulance 130); a police report is needed for insurance. Do not move the vehicles before police attend if there are injuries, and exchange details with the other driver.
City driving in Cape Verde
Praia's hilly, congested centre (Plato and Achada) has narrow one-way streets, scarce parking and aggressive traffic; many visitors find it easier to park on the edge and walk into the Plato district.
Winter driving in Cape Verde
No winter-tyre rules - tropical climate
Fuel in Cape Verde
Petrol (gasolina) costs roughly USD 1.40-1.60 per litre and diesel (gasoleo) about USD 1.10-1.30 (2026). Stations are self-service and staffed; cash in escudos is the norm, with cards accepted at some urban stations, and pumps are sparse on the smaller islands.
Sources: esim.holafly.com, globalpetrolprices.com, caboverdeexpert.com, caboverdeexpert.com