Driving in Mauritius on a foreign licence

Travelling to Mauritius Island on vacation can be an unforgettable experience and this can be made even better if you hire a car during your stay. Public transport can be daunting if you're not familiar with the bus routes and sometimes you will need to push your way through as people try to get to their destinations and consequently forget courtesy. A private taxi on the other hand can be a good alternative as you will get the comfort of not having to share the seats with strangers and avoid the frustration of trying to find your way to get where you need to go but this may prove expensive if you want to see lots of places over several days. The best thing you can do to get the most of your holiday in Mauritius is to rent a car so that you can drive yourself.

Can I drive in Mauritius with my driving licence from abroad? If your driving licence has been issued by a Competent Authority in your country, then you should be able to drive in Mauritius without any problems. For example, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) in UK is a competent authority and therefore people from England with a valid licence don't have to worry. If you're not sure whether your driving licence will be recognised, you can always get hold of an International Driving Licence from your country to save you from any hassles when you get here.

Here are a few things that you need to bear in mind when driving in Mauritius though:

People in Mauritius drive on the left side of the road and give way to the right (similar to the UK system).
You are allowed to use your national driving licence for the period of your stay provided it's not longer than 4 weeks. If you need to drive for more than 1 month, you will need to get a temporary driving licence from the Traffic Branch.
The speed limit is normally 40 Kmh (Kilometres per hour) and on main roads it is 80 kmh. That's 24.86 mph (miles per hour) and 49.71 mph respectively. On motorways, you can do upto 110 kmh (68.35 mph).

Mauritius is a small island and it is every easy to get from A to B as the roads are well marked with signs for attractions/places of interest/public beaches and so on everywhere. Once you overcome your fear of driving in a foreign country, you will soon find it enjoyable to get around the island in your private car. Expect to pay around £30 (Rs1500) per day for car hire.

The state of the roads are pretty good everywhere you need to go as a tourist; however if you're going off the beaten track, you might find some roads in poor conditions. It is advisable to stay clear of Port-Louis as it is the capital of Mauritius and the traffic can be really bad during business hours. Traffic jam can start from 7am and last till 7pm and if you're unlucky enough to be driving through at peak times, you will only move inch by inch and if you're not a confident driver, you might not move at all as people don't usually give way unless you cut right in front of them. Note that cars can come really close to you when you're driving or dangerously overtake you without any warning.

All is all, driving in Mauritius is the cheapest way to explore Mauritius and will make your holiday more pleasant. So don't forget to bring your driver's licence when you're travelling.