NZ licence 
EthiopiaCan you drive in Ethiopia with an NZ license?
Short answer: you cannot drive in Ethiopia on an NZ license or an International Driving Permit alone — Ethiopia requires a local or temporary licence.
An International Driving Permit is not sufficient to drive in Ethiopia. Ethiopia does not accept the IDP for foreign visitors — a local or temporary licence is required. Always confirm the current rule before you travel.
New Zealand 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 Local rules format and carried alongside your national licence.
What driving in Ethiopia is like
The mountain road from Addis Ababa up into the Simien Mountains via Gondar and Debark is a renowned, dramatic highland 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 100 km/h on the Addis–Adama expressway. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your NZ licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Ethiopia can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to NZ licence holders in Ethiopia
| NZ licence in Ethiopia | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | An IDP is not sufficient here |
| IDP format required | Local licensing rules apply |
| Your NZ licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| New Zealand is party to | 1949 Geneva |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 991 (police), 907 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h on the Addis–Adama expressway |
| Currency | ETB |
Driving rules in Ethiopia you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for pedestrians and livestock.
- Zero alcohol tolerance.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Local driving facts in Ethiopia
Emergency number: 991 (police), 907 (ambulance) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 100 km/h on the Addis–Adama expressway. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Ethiopia
The Addis Ababa-Adama expressway is Ethiopia's main toll road, paid in cash or by prepaid card at toll plazas; most other roads are toll-free.
Parking in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa runs digital, app/meter-based paid parking zones with marshals; parking in no-parking zones, blocking entrances or using disabled bays draws fines.
Penalties & enforcement in Ethiopia
Speeding 6-10 km/h over brings a 1,500 birr fine plus demerit points and 11-20 km/h over a 1,700 birr fine; running lights, phone use and lane violations carry 1,500 birr fines, and rental firms recover camera fines from renters.
If you have an accident in Ethiopia
Stop immediately, never leave the scene, and call police; a police report is mandatory, and because Ethiopia has one of the world's highest road-death rates, crowds can gather quickly, so prioritise safety.
City driving in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa suffers heavy congestion (worst 8:15-8:30 AM and 4:15-4:30 PM) amid ongoing corridor roadworks; lane discipline is loose and pedestrians and minibuses dart unpredictably.
Winter driving in Ethiopia
No winter-tyre rules - tropical highland climate with no snow regulations.
Fuel in Ethiopia
Petrol (benzene) and diesel (naphtha) are government-priced and attended-service; as of 2026 petrol is around 142 birr and diesel about 163 birr per litre, cash expected, and rural stations can run dry so fill up in towns.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com, birrmetrics.com, addisfortune.news, shega.co