South Africa licence 
TogoCan you drive in Togo with a South Africa license?
Short answer: to drive in Togo with a South Africa license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format, carried together with your South Africa license.
Yes — to drive in Togo on a South Africa licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your South Africa licence. Togo expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.
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 Togo is like
The RN1 climbing north from Atakpamé through the green Plateaux hill country toward Kara is Togo's most scenic drive, though it is also notorious for serious crashes. 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 on the N1 highway. 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 Togo can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to South Africa licence holders in Togo
| South Africa licence in Togo | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Yes — carry one alongside your licence |
| 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 | 117 (police), 118 (fire) |
| Top speed limit | 90 km/h on the N1 highway |
| Currency | XOF |
Driving rules in Togo you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Watch for motorbike taxis (zémidjans).
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Local driving facts in Togo
Emergency number: 117 (police), 118 (fire) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 90 km/h on the N1 highway. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Togo
Togo operates a small number of cash toll booths on main highways (notably the RN1/coastal corridor), with charges of roughly XOF 300 (about USD 0.50); pay in CFA francs cash at the barrier.
Parking in Togo
Lomé has no app-based or colour-zone parking system; parking is informal kerbside, frequently overseen by attendants who expect a small CFA-franc tip, and drivers should avoid blocking the busy boulevards.
Penalties & enforcement in Togo
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants and the blood-alcohol limit is 0.08%; enforcement is mainly at police checkpoints with on-the-spot cash fines, and rental firms pass on any penalties to the hirer.
If you have an accident in Togo
Stop and stay at the scene; call the police on 117 (fire 118, ambulance 8200), and do not move vehicles if anyone is injured, as a police report is needed for any insurance claim.
City driving in Togo
Lomé's roads are crowded with zemidjan motorcycle taxis weaving through traffic, and random police checkpoints are frequent where drivers must present licence, IDP and vehicle papers on demand.
Winter driving in Togo
No winter-tyre rules - tropical climate.
Fuel in Togo
Petrol and diesel are sold at stations in Lomé and along the RN1, but roadside black-market fuel in bottles is common upcountry and best avoided; carry CFA-franc cash as card payment is rare.
Sources: rhinocarhire.com, internationaltravelpermits.com, edriv.ing