Cross-border route

Ethiopia Eritrea

Driving across the border

Yes — you can drive from Ethiopia into Eritrea: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Eritrea expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the internationally recognised 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 Eritrea Eritrea requirements

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance

FromEthiopia

ToEritrea

IDP in EritreaStrongly recommended

Accepted formatLocal rules

Driving sideright (no change)

Currency in EritreaERN

Emergency number113 (police)

Top speed limit80 km/h highways

Ethiopia → Eritrea

Crossing the border

Ethiopia and Eritrea 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 Eritrea

Drive on the right.
Travel permits required outside Asmara.
0.05% alcohol limit.
Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

Once you're driving in Eritrea

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

A valid national licence is accepted for short visits but an International Driving Permit is strongly advised and required to rent a car; carry both at all times.

Tolls & road charges

Eritrea has no toll roads, vignette or electronic toll system, so no toll charges apply to tourists.

Parking in the cities

Parking in Asmara is mostly free, on-street and informal with no colour-coded paid zones; central areas can be congested, so use hotel or guarded lots where available.

Fines & camera enforcement

Speeding, phone use and seatbelt violations draw fines often settled in cash at checkpoints; photography of roads and infrastructure is restricted and can cause detention, so avoid it.

If you have an accident

Stop, do not move the vehicles, and report to the police immediately; a police report is mandatory for any rental or insurance claim and leaving the scene is illegal.

Driving in the capital

Beyond Asmara and Zoba Maekel, foreigners need a government travel permit obtained in advance from the Department of Protocol, and military checkpoints stop drivers to inspect it.

Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · driverabroad.com · africatourvisa.com

Common questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Ethiopia to Eritrea?

Yes — Eritrea commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Eritrea recognises the internationally recognised format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.

Does the driving side change between Ethiopia and Eritrea?

No. Both Ethiopia and Eritrea drive on the right.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Eritrea?

In Eritrea, dial 113 (police) for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 80 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 Eritrea?

Eritrea has no toll roads, vignette or electronic toll system, so no toll charges apply to tourists.

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.