Democratic Republic of the Congo Burundi
Democratic Republic of the Congo 
BurundiLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi 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 Burundi
- Drive on the right.
- Hilly, winding rural roads.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Once you're driving in Burundi
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
Burundi follows the 1949 Geneva Convention, so a 1949-format IDP carried with the home licence is the safest choice and is preferred by rental firms; short-stay visitors from the US, UK, EU, Canada or Australia may drive on their home licence but an IDP avoids checkpoint disputes. Both documents must be carried together.
Tolls & road charges
Burundi has no toll-road network or electronic tags; there are no formal tolls for tourists, though police and military checkpoints where documents are inspected are common on intercity routes.
Parking in the cities
Bujumbura has no organised paid-zone or metered system; parking is informal kerbside or in guarded lots where an attendant expects a small Burundian-franc tip. Use hotel or compound parking, as roadways are unmarked and street security is a concern.
Fines & camera enforcement
Enforcement is via roadside police checks where licence, IDP, registration and insurance are demanded and fines settled in cash francs; the legal blood-alcohol limit is low (around 0.1%/0.08%). Keep all documents on hand to avoid prolonged stops.
If you have an accident
Drive on the right; after a crash stop, do not move the vehicles, and report to the police (emergency lines around 117/112) and obtain a report for insurance, which is compulsory third-party. Stay alert at the scene, as crowds can form and tensions rise quickly.
Driving in the capital
Bujumbura's defining quirk is that traffic signals are largely non-functional and roads are unmarked, while many local drivers are untrained, so junctions work on improvisation - drive slowly and defensively. A 4x4 is advisable once you leave the paved city corridors.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · adcidl.com · curiousexpeditions.org · internationaltravelpermits.com