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Home/Routes/Suriname routes/to Guyana
Cross-border route

Suriname Guyana

Driving across the border
Yes — you can drive from Suriname into Guyana: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Guyana expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1949 Geneva Convention format. Both countries drive on the left, 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 Guyana Guyana requirements

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance
FromSuriname
ToGuyana
IDP in GuyanaStrongly recommended
Accepted format1949 Geneva
Driving sideleft (no change)
Currency in GuyanaGYD
Emergency number911
Top speed limit100 km/h highways where signed
Driving in Guyana
Suriname → Guyana

Crossing the border

Suriname and Guyana 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 Guyana

  • Drive on the left.
  • Unpaved roads outside the coast.
  • 0.08% alcohol limit.
  • Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

What to see when you arrive in Guyana

  • the Kaieteur Falls
  • the colonial architecture of Georgetown
  • the rainforests of the Iwokrama reserve
  • the Rupununi savannah
  • the Shell Beach turtle nesting site

Once you're driving in Guyana

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

Guyana is a Vienna Convention signatory; visitors can drive short-term on a valid foreign licence, but an IDP is required if the licence is not in the Roman alphabet and is commonly demanded by rental firms at pickup.

Tolls & road charges

Tolls apply at the major river crossings rather than highways: the Demerara Harbour Bridge charges about GYD 200 for a car, while the Berbice River Bridge is the priciest (historically ~GYD 1,900); pay in Guyanese dollars.

Parking in the cities

Central Georgetown has metered and attended on-street parking; congestion and informal minibus traffic make illegal parking risky, so use paid lots near the city centre and seafront.

Fines & camera enforcement

Police issue on-the-spot tickets for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use; fines are paid in local currency and rental companies pass any tickets to the driver's card.

If you have an accident

Dial 911 for police and 913 for ambulance; do not move vehicles after a serious crash until police attend, and obtain a police report, which is mandatory for any insurance or rental claim.

Driving in the capital

Traffic drives on the LEFT (a former British colony), so foreign drivers from right-hand-traffic countries must adjust; Georgetown's roundabouts and darting route-minibuses are the main hazard.

Sources: harbourbridge.gov.gy · tollguru.com · globalpetrolprices.com · internationaldrivingauthority.com

Common questions

01
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Suriname to Guyana?
Yes — Guyana commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Guyana recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.
02
Does the driving side change between Suriname and Guyana?
No. Both Suriname and Guyana drive on the left.
03
What is the emergency number and speed limit in Guyana?
In Guyana, dial 911 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 100 km/h highways where signed, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.
04
How do tolls and road charges work in Guyana?
Tolls apply at the major river crossings rather than highways: the Demerara Harbour Bridge charges about GYD 200 for a car, while the Berbice River Bridge is the priciest (historically ~GYD 1,900); pay in Guyanese dollars.
05
How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?
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