Cross-border route

Cameroon Gabon

Driving across the border

Yes — you can drive from Cameroon into Gabon: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Gabon expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1949 Geneva Convention format. Both countries drive on the right, so there is no change of driving side at the border. Plan your border crossing in advance and keep your passport, national licence and IDP together.

Get my permit for Gabon Gabon requirements

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance

FromCameroon

ToGabon

IDP in GabonStrongly recommended

Accepted format1949 Geneva

Driving sideright (no change)

Currency in GabonXAF

Emergency number1730 (police), 1300 (ambulance)

Top speed limit100 km/h highways

Cameroon → Gabon

Crossing the border

Cameroon and Gabon 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 Gabon

Drive on the right.
Wet, slippery roads in the rainy season.
0.08% alcohol limit.
Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

Once you're driving in Gabon

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

Short-stay visitors may drive on a valid home licence accompanied by an International Driving Permit; an IDP (carried with your national licence) is effectively required and is requested by police and rental firms. Foreign residents must convert to a Gabonese licence within three months.

Tolls & road charges

Gabon has no national toll-road or vignette system; major routes such as the N1 are toll-free, so no electronic tag or pass is needed.

Parking in the cities

Parking in central Libreville is informal and largely on-street, often watched by self-appointed gardiens who expect a small CFA-franc tip; there are no colour-coded paid zones, and illegally parked cars near markets and the Boulevard du Bord de Mer can be moved or blocked.

Fines & camera enforcement

Police checkpoints are frequent and foreign drivers are commonly stopped for document checks; on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use are typical, and rental companies will pass any unpaid penalty to your card.

If you have an accident

Call the police on 1730 or the general emergency line 1300/112 (Libreville police 177); do not move vehicles after an injury accident and wait for police, as a written police report (constat) is needed for any insurance or rental claim.

Driving in the capital

Libreville's traffic funnels onto the seafront Boulevard Triomphal and the chronically congested PK (point kilométrique) junctions on the road out toward the airport, where informal taxis stop abruptly and gridlock is routine at rush hour.

Sources: travel.state.gov · en.wikipedia.org · internationaldriversassociation.com · tyremap.com

Common questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Cameroon to Gabon?

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

Does the driving side change between Cameroon and Gabon?

No. Both Cameroon and Gabon drive on the right.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Gabon?

In Gabon, dial 1730 (police), 1300 (ambulance) for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 100 km/h highways, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Gabon?

Gabon has no national toll-road or vignette system; major routes such as the N1 are toll-free, so no electronic tag or pass is needed.

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.