Gabon Republic of the Congo
Gabon 
Republic of the CongoLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Gabon and Republic of the Congo 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 Republic of the Congo
- Drive on the right.
- Frequent police checkpoints.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Once you're driving in Republic of the Congo
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
The Republic of the Congo expects foreign visitors to carry an IDP together with their national licence, and rental firms require both, especially if the home licence is not in French. There is no clearly defined grace period, so treat the IDP as required on arrival.
Tolls & road charges
There are no widespread electronic tolls or vignettes; the upgraded Brazzaville-Pointe-Noire (RN1) corridor has some péage barriers paid in cash (CFA francs). Most travel cost is fuel rather than tolls.
Parking in the cities
Parking in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire is mostly informal on-street with attendants who expect a small tip; there are no app-based or colour-zone systems. Use guarded hotel or business parking and avoid leaving the car unattended.
Fines & camera enforcement
Police checkpoints are frequent and may seek on-the-spot cash payments from foreign drivers; ask for an official receipt and keep documents accessible. Common cited offences are missing papers, seatbelt and speeding violations.
If you have an accident
Remain at the scene if safe, do not move vehicles when there are injuries, and summon police to file a report for insurance; exchange details with the other driver. If a crowd turns hostile, leave and report at the nearest police/gendarmerie post.
Driving in the capital
In Brazzaville the central avenues and the Avenue de la Paix area are congested with shared taxis and motorbikes, and lane markings are widely ignored. Drive slowly and watch for sudden stops by 'taxi-bus' vehicles.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · internationaltravelpermits.com · travel.state.gov · countryreports.org