Cross-border route

Brazil Guyana

Driving across the border

Yes — you can drive from Brazil into Guyana: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Guyana expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1949 Geneva Convention format. Important: Brazil drives on the right and Guyana drives on the left, so the side of the road changes at the border — take extra care. Plan your border crossing in advance and keep your passport, national licence and IDP together.

⚠ Driving side changes at the border: Brazil drives on the right, Guyana on the left.

Get my permit for Guyana Guyana requirements

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance

FromBrazil

ToGuyana

IDP in GuyanaStrongly recommended

Accepted format1949 Geneva

Driving sideChanges (right → left)

Currency in GuyanaGYD

Emergency number911

Top speed limit100 km/h highways where signed

Brazil → Guyana

Crossing the border

Brazil and Guyana share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.

Driving rules in Guyana

Drive on the left.
Unpaved roads outside the coast.
0.08% alcohol limit.
Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

What to see when you arrive in Guyana

the Kaieteur Falls
the colonial architecture of Georgetown
the rainforests of the Iwokrama reserve
the Rupununi savannah
the Shell Beach turtle nesting site

Once you're driving in Guyana

Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.

Driving on a foreign licence

Guyana is a Vienna Convention signatory; visitors can drive short-term on a valid foreign licence, but an IDP is required if the licence is not in the Roman alphabet and is commonly demanded by rental firms at pickup.

Tolls & road charges

Tolls apply at the major river crossings rather than highways: the Demerara Harbour Bridge charges about GYD 200 for a car, while the Berbice River Bridge is the priciest (historically ~GYD 1,900); pay in Guyanese dollars.

Parking in the cities

Central Georgetown has metered and attended on-street parking; congestion and informal minibus traffic make illegal parking risky, so use paid lots near the city centre and seafront.

Fines & camera enforcement

Police issue on-the-spot tickets for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use; fines are paid in local currency and rental companies pass any tickets to the driver's card.

If you have an accident

Dial 911 for police and 913 for ambulance; do not move vehicles after a serious crash until police attend, and obtain a police report, which is mandatory for any insurance or rental claim.

Driving in the capital

Traffic drives on the LEFT (a former British colony), so foreign drivers from right-hand-traffic countries must adjust; Georgetown's roundabouts and darting route-minibuses are the main hazard.

Sources: harbourbridge.gov.gy · tollguru.com · globalpetrolprices.com · internationaldrivingauthority.com

Common questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Brazil to Guyana?

Yes — Guyana commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Guyana recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.

Does the driving side change between Brazil and Guyana?

Yes. Brazil drives on the right and Guyana drives on the left. Adjust carefully once you cross the border.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Guyana?

In Guyana, dial 911 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 100 km/h highways where signed, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Guyana?

How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?

International Driver Licence issues your digital IDP in as fast as 8 minutes, so you can have it ready before you set off.