Cross-border route

China Macau

Driving across the border

Yes — you can drive from China into Macau: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Macau expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1968 Vienna Convention format. Important: China drives on the right and Macau drives on the left, so the side of the road changes at the border — take extra care. The Border Gate (Portas do Cerco) links Zhuhai with Macau.

⚠ Driving side changes at the border: China drives on the right, Macau on the left.

Get my permit for Macau Macau requirements

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance

FromChina

ToMacau

IDP in MacauStrongly recommended

Accepted format1968 Vienna

Driving sideChanges (right → left)

Currency in MacauMOP

Emergency number999

Top speed limit80 km/h bridges and the Sai Van corridor

China → Macau

Crossing the border

The Border Gate (Portas do Cerco) links Zhuhai with Macau.

Driving rules in Macau

Drive on the left.
Seatbelts mandatory.
Strict drink-driving penalties.
Narrow, congested streets.

Once you're driving in Macau

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

Macau drives on the LEFT; visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence for short stays, but an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended and usually required by rental firms when the licence is not in Chinese, Portuguese or English, and a Hong Kong-style border permit is needed to take a car across to mainland China.

Tolls & road charges

Macau has no toll roads within the territory; the only toll is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge for cross-border vehicles, which most tourists use by shuttle bus rather than driving themselves.

Parking in the cities

Street parking is metered (paid by coins or the macaupass/Mpay app) with typical 1-2 hour limits, and public multi-storey 'auto-silo' garages are the practical option; parking at junctions, within 5 m of an intersection, or on bridges, flyovers and tunnels is prohibited and ticketed.

Fines & camera enforcement

Speeding, phone use and seatbelt violations draw fixed fines (commonly several hundred to over a thousand MOP) and licence points, with extensive speed and red-light cameras; rental firms charge any camera fines plus an administration fee to the renter's card.

If you have an accident

Dial 999 (also 110 or 112) for police and ambulance; for any injury or disputed-fault collision leave the vehicles in place and wait for the police to attend and produce a report, which the rental company and insurer will require.

Driving in the capital

On the dense Macau peninsula the narrow one-way Portuguese-era streets around the ZAPE/Outer Harbour district and the constant flow of motorbikes filtering through traffic make a hire car genuinely stressful, which is why most visitors rely on taxis and free casino shuttles.

Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · expat.com · macaulifestyle.com · idaoffice.org

Common questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from China to Macau?

Yes — Macau commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Macau recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.

Does the driving side change between China and Macau?

Yes. China drives on the right and Macau drives on the left. Adjust carefully once you cross the border.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Macau?

In Macau, dial 999 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 80 km/h bridges and the Sai Van corridor, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Macau?

Macau has no toll roads within the territory; the only toll is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge for cross-border vehicles, which most tourists use by shuttle bus rather than driving themselves.

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.