How long you can drive with a South African licence in Australia, Dubai, Germany, the UK, and the US

South Africans travelling to Australia, Dubai, Germany, the United Kingdom (UK), or the United States (US) will be happy to know that they will be able to use their local driver’s licences to drive a car on the overseas nations’ roads.

The parameters vary, with Australia only allowing South African licence holders a maximum of three months of free roaming, while countries such as Dubai let you drive around for as long as you please provided you carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) on your person.

While on the topic, it is recommended to get an IDP before travelling out of South Africa if you intend to drive in another country regardless of whether it requires you to do so or not.

An IDP serves as a translation of your driver’s licence and is helpful for countries where English is not the native language. An IDP interprets the important document into several tongues including the five official UN languages.

Additionally, it proves that you do, in fact, have a domestic licence and it is generally accepted as an alternative proof of identification. An IDP is also essential if you plan to rent a car or get insurance outside South African borders.

An IDP is available online from the Automobile Association (AA) or in-store from AA-accredited sales agents.

For those who are leaving Mzansi for good, the requirements are slightly more strict.

In this scenario, you will have to get a driver’s licence confirmation letter from the Road Traffic Management Corporation, otherwise known as a driver’s licence certificate, which constitutes proof of a valid driver’s licence in South Africa.

This confirmation is required for individuals looking to drive permanently in another country as it allows them to convert their South African driver’s licence into the corresponding licence of their new home.

However, not all countries accept these confirmations. In such cases, you will have to apply for that specific country’s licence upon arrival or obtain an International Driver’s Licence.

Happy holidays

According to document concierge company Apostil.co.za, this is how long you can drive with a South African licence in Australia, Dubai, Germany, the UK, and the US: