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Cross-border route

Honduras Guatemala

Driving across the border

Yes — you can drive from Honduras into Guatemala: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. An IDP is recommended in Guatemala and especially expected if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet, prepared in the 1949 Geneva Convention 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 Guatemala Guatemala requirements

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance

FromHonduras

ToGuatemala

IDP in GuatemalaRecommended

Accepted format1949 Geneva

Driving sideright (no change)

Currency in GuatemalaGTQ

Emergency number110 (police), 123 (ambulance)

Top speed limit100 km/h highways

Honduras → Guatemala

Crossing the border

Honduras and Guatemala 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 Guatemala

Drive on the right.
Avoid night driving outside cities.
0.08% alcohol limit.
Topes (speed bumps) frequent in towns.

What to see when you arrive in Guatemala

the colonial city of Antigua
the Maya ruins of Tikal
Lake Atitlán
the market of Chichicastenango
the volcanoes of the highlands

Once you're driving in Guatemala

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 on a valid foreign licence for the duration of their authorized stay; Guatemala accepts and often expects a physical IDP (digital copies are not accepted) alongside the home licence, especially for non-Roman-script licences.

Tolls & road charges

There are essentially no toll motorways; the privately run Autopista Palín–Escuintla (CA-9 toward the Pacific) is the notable exception, charged in cash quetzales at the booth.

Parking in the cities

Guatemala City and Antigua have metered street parking and private lots costing roughly Q10-40 (about USD 1-5); always use guarded/attended lots where possible to avoid theft.

Fines & camera enforcement

Police fine speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, sometimes on the spot in cash; carry registration and insurance for the frequent highway/military checkpoints, and rental firms pass on any unpaid fines.

If you have an accident

Call 110 (PNC police) or 1554/PROATUR tourist assistance; do not move the vehicles and wait for authorities, as in serious or injury crashes all involved drivers can be detained until fault is established.

Driving in the capital

Guatemala City's numbered zonas and the CA-9 Calzada Roosevelt clog severely; the RN-14 descent from the capital to Antigua is a slow switchback, and chicken buses (camionetas) drive aggressively.

Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · livinginguatemala.com · livinginguatemala.com · tyremap.com

Common questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Honduras to Guatemala?

An IDP is strongly recommended for Guatemala and often requested if your national licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet. Guatemala recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.

Does the driving side change between Honduras and Guatemala?

No. Both Honduras and Guatemala drive on the right.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Guatemala?

In Guatemala, dial 110 (police), 123 (ambulance) for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 100 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 Guatemala?

There are essentially no toll motorways; the privately run Autopista Palín–Escuintla (CA-9 toward the Pacific) is the notable exception, charged in cash quetzales at the booth.

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.

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