Mali Senegal
Mali 
SenegalLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Mali and Senegal 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 Senegal
- Drive on the right.
- Toll motorway from Dakar to the airport.
- 0.08% alcohol limit.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
What to see when you arrive in Senegal
- the pink waters of Lake Retba
- the island of Gorée
- the markets of Dakar
- the Djoudj bird sanctuary
- the colonial town of Saint-Louis
Once you're driving in Senegal
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
Visitors may drive on a valid national licence for short tourist stays, but an International Driving Permit (1968/1949 Convention) is strongly recommended and is commonly required by rental firms and at police checks, especially if the home licence is not in French. An IDP becomes effectively mandatory once you stay long-term or if your licence is in a non-Latin script.
Tolls & road charges
Senegal uses electronic toll plazas on the Dakar-Diamniadio-AIBD autoroute; tourists normally pay cash in CFA francs (XOF) at staffed booths since rental cars rarely carry the e-tag, with the full Dakar-to-airport run costing several thousand CFA.
Parking in the cities
Central Dakar has paid parking around business and shopping districts, and informal 'gardiens de voiture' attendants expect a small tip of about 200-500 CFA to watch your car; double-parking and congestion are heavy and illegally parked cars can be clamped.
Fines & camera enforcement
Police conduct on-the-spot checks and use handheld speed cameras at blackspots; fines for speeding, no seatbelt or phone use are typically paid in cash on the spot, and the drink-drive limit is very low (around 0.02% BAC). Rental firms pass any later camera or fine charges to your card.
If you have an accident
Call police on 17 (or the Gendarmerie on 800-00-20-20) and obtain an official report; do not move vehicles after an injury accident and complete the European-style 'constat amiable' damage form with the other driver for insurance and rental claims.
Driving in the capital
In Dakar the Corniche and the chaotic Place de l'Independence area plus unregulated junctions where 'cars rapides' minibuses stop suddenly are notorious; the Dakar-Diamniadio toll autoroute is the safest way out toward Blaise Diagne airport.
Sources: sn.usembassy.gov · expat.com · tyremap.com · rhinocarhire.com