Democratic Republic of the Congo Zambia
Democratic Republic of the Congo 
ZambiaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia 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 Zambia
- Drive on the left.
- Reflective triangles required for breakdowns.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Long distances between fuel stops.
What to see when you arrive in Zambia
- Victoria Falls at Livingstone
- the South Luangwa National Park
- the Lower Zambezi National Park
- Lake Kariba
- the Devil's Pool
Once you're driving in Zambia
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
Tourists may drive for up to 90 days on a valid national licence; an International Driving Permit is required if the licence is not in English and is strongly advised for police checkpoints and insurance claims, always carried with the original licence.
Tolls & road charges
Zambia runs a national toll-gate system on major highways operated by the National Road Fund Agency; light foreign-registered/rental vehicles pay a modest fee (around K20) in cash at each gate, so keep small kwacha notes handy.
Parking in the cities
In central Lusaka paid bays are managed by city-council attendants who issue tickets; use guarded hotel and shopping-mall lots, and never leave valuables visible as opportunistic theft occurs.
Fines & camera enforcement
Roadblocks are routine; default limits are 50 km/h urban, 100 km/h on highways, seatbelts compulsory and the BAC limit is 0.08%. Fines may be requested on the spot - insist on an official receipt and verify the amount; rental firms pass on camera/uninsured penalties.
If you have an accident
Call police on 991 (general emergency 999); for injuries or major damage a police report is mandatory and needed for insurance, do not move vehicles, and always ask for a receipt for any fine. Notify your rental firm before arranging recovery.
Driving in the capital
Lusaka's main arteries (Great East Road, Cairo Road) are congested at peak hours with minibuses stopping abruptly to pick up passengers; junctions can be chaotic and traffic-light outages are common.
Sources: internationaltravelpermits.com · tyremap.com · globalpetrolprices.com · lusaka365.co