Driving in Ghana with a UK or US Licence (2026)

Quick answer: Visitors can drive in Ghana with their UK or US licence plus a 1949 Convention International Driving Permit (IDP). The UK FCDO says you can drive using "the 1949 version of the international driving permit… or a Ghanaian driving licence". The US State Department says drivers must have an international driver's licence (from AAA or AATA) or a Ghanaian licence. Citi Newsroom reports this visitor privilege is capped at 90 days, after which you must convert to a Ghanaian licence through the DVLA. Ghana drives on the right.

If you're planning to take the wheel on your trip home, getting the paperwork right is essential. Ghana has a lot of police checkpoints, and the right documents keep things smooth.

What UK licence holders need

Your full UK photocard licence.
A 1949 International Driving Permit. The FCDO's Ghana advice specifies "the 1949 version". In the UK, IDPs are issued at PayPoint outlets; check GOV.UK for the current process before you travel.
Your passport or a copy of its photo page. The FCDO advises carrying ID and keeping the original in a safe place.

What US licence holders need

Your valid state driver's licence.
An International Driving Permit from AAA or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). These are the only two issuers the State Department names.
Passport and visa or immigration documents, which the State Department says you should carry.

The State Department adds that the US Embassy in Accra cannot authenticate state-issued licences. If you ever plan to convert to a Ghanaian licence, get your licence authenticated in the US before you travel.

The 90-day rule and converting your licence

According to Citi Newsroom's April 2026 explainer, short-term visitors may drive on a home licence with an IDP for up to 90 days. Beyond that, foreigners are treated as residents and must convert. The DVLA lists the requirements for conversion, including:

the original and a copy of your valid foreign licence
a residence permit (foreign nationals)
a non-citizen Ghana Card (Citi Newsroom reports this costs $120 from the NIA)
an authentication letter from the issuing authority, embassy or high commission

Citi Newsroom also notes that dual citizens who travel on a foreign passport are treated as foreigners for this purpose.

Rules of the road worth knowing

Drive on the right. UK drivers should take extra care at junctions and roundabouts.
Speed limits: published figures should be checked locally. We could not confirm them from an official Ghanaian source, so follow the posted signs.
Police checkpoints are common. The US State Department says travellers are "routinely stopped", and the Ministry of Roads and Highways' Ghana Drivers' Guide says police may check your licence, IDP, ID or passport, and the vehicle's roadworthiness certificate.
Never offer cash at a checkpoint. The FCDO warns this can be perceived as a bribe.
Avoid night driving outside towns. Both the FCDO and the State Department warn of poor lighting and unpredictable pedestrians, cyclists and animals.
Grass or leaves in the road often signal an accident or hazard ahead (FCDO).

Insurance: what to check

Rental insurance in Ghana varies a great deal between firms. KAYAK's Accra page notes that "the level of protection can differ substantially". Before you sign, ask:

Is third-party insurance included as standard?
Is there collision or damage cover, and what is the excess?
Are tyres, windscreen and underbody covered?
What happens in a breakdown? Is there a 24-hour number?
Does your credit card or travel insurance offer rental excess cover in Ghana? Many policies exclude some countries, so check the wording.

Get everything in writing, and photograph the car, including the fuel gauge and odometer, at pickup and return.

Prefer not to drive?

If the paperwork or the roads feel daunting, a chauffeur removes the licence question entirely. See our self-drive vs chauffeur guide.

Getting your IDP: UK

For UK licence holders, GOV.UK's IDP table lists Ghana as a 1949 country, and the permit is issued in person at certain shops with PayPoint for £5.50. You need a valid GB or Northern Ireland driving licence. If you still have an old paper licence, GOV.UK says you'll need to update it to a photocard or carry other photo ID.

GOV.UK also reminds you that "you must always have your driving licence with you, as well as your IDP". The permit is a translation and supporting document, not a replacement. Don't leave the plastic card in London.

If you're hiring from a firm that wants to check your UK licence record, GOV.UK has a service to generate a "check code" you can share. It's worth doing before you fly, as some firms ask for it.

Getting your IDP: US

The State Department names only two issuers for US citizens: AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). AAA's own pages put the permit fee at $20. If you apply online there's an extra $10 photo fee plus shipping, and processing takes about five business days before posting. AAA also says it won't issue an IDP more than six months before the date you want it to start, so don't apply too early.

There's a warning worth repeating from AAA Club Alliance: "many travelers still unknowingly purchase invalid permits online." Websites selling glossy "international driver's licences" are not the same thing. If it didn't come from AAA or AATA, a Ghanaian police officer has no reason to accept it.

Dual citizens and returning Ghanaians

This is the question we hear most from diaspora readers, and the honest answer is that it depends on which identity you're travelling on. Citi Newsroom's 2026 explainer says that if a dual citizen chooses to use their foreign passport and identity while in Ghana, they're treated as a foreigner: the 90-day IDP rule applies, and conversion requires a non-citizen Ghana Card.

If you hold a Ghanaian licence from years ago, check whether it's still valid before relying on it. The DVLA's own website is the place to start.

What the law says about foreign licences

The Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180) are explicit. Regulation 148, as quoted by Ghana Education's summary, states that a person shall not use a foreign driver's licence to drive in Ghana and must convert it under the Road Traffic Act. Visitors are covered by separate provisions on visitors' permits. The Ministry of Roads and Highways' Ghana Drivers' Guide lists failure to comply with the visitors' driving permit regulations as an offence carrying 20–25 penalty units.

In plain English: as a short-term visitor, carry your licence and the right IDP, stay within the 90 days, and you're on the right side of the rules. Turn up at a checkpoint with only a UK or US card and you're relying on the officer's goodwill.

Police checkpoints: what to expect

You'll almost certainly be waved down at some point, especially on the highways out of Accra. It's routine. The Ghana Drivers' Guide says traffic police wear a white tunic with blue trousers and carry a badge with their service number. They may ask for your licence, IDP, ID or passport, and the car's roadworthiness certificate.

Be polite, keep your documents together in one wallet, and hand them over when asked. Keep copies of your passport and visa page in the car, since the FCDO suggests leaving the original in a hotel safe. If someone suggests a cash "fine" on the spot, remember the FCDO's warning that handing cash to the police can be seen as a bribe. Ask, calmly, for the proper procedure.

If you have an accident

Nobody plans for this, so a few decisions made in advance help. Before you leave the rental office, save the firm's 24-hour number in your phone and write it down on paper. Ask what they want you to do in the event of a crash: some firms will send someone, others will tell you to go straight to the nearest police station to make a report. Their insurer will almost certainly need a police report.

If anyone is hurt, get help first. Then photograph the scene, the other vehicles and their plates, and get names and numbers from any witnesses. Don't sign anything you don't understand. The State Department adds that while you're in Ghana you should carry proof of your immigration status, such as your passport and visa, so you have it to hand if the police need it.

Is driving yourself worth it?

That's your call. Plenty of returning Ghanaians drive every visit without a second thought. But the State Department's description of Ghana's roads (intersections without stop signs, traffic lights often out of service, aggressive driving and poorly maintained vehicles) is a fair warning for anyone who's only ever driven in Kent or Connecticut. For your first trip, a driver for the long highway legs and self-drive around town is a sensible middle way.

A pre-departure checklist

Two or three weeks before you fly, run through this list:

Licence valid for your whole trip (check the expiry date).
IDP: the 1949 version, from PayPoint in the UK or AAA/AATA in the US.
Passport valid, with copies of the photo page and visa saved on your phone and printed.
Rental confirmation listing what the insurance covers and the excess.
Travel insurance that covers you as a driver of a hire car in Ghana; read the exclusions.
DVLA check code (UK), if your hire firm wants one.
The firm's 24-hour number, saved in your phone and written on paper.

If you're staying longer than 90 days, start the conversion process early. The DVLA's list of requirements, including authentication of your home licence, can take time to assemble, and the State Department advises US citizens to have their licence authenticated in the US before arriving.

Hiring a car: what firms usually ask for

Expect a rental firm to want to see your licence, your IDP and your passport, and to take a security deposit. In April 2025 Ghanaian media reported police arresting a suspect linked to a car-rental fraud syndicate that used forged documents to hire and steal vehicles. Firms have good reason to check your papers carefully, so have them ready and don't take it personally. If a firm asks for nothing at all, that's arguably more worrying.

Keep the paperwork in the car's glovebox only while you're driving; take it with you when you park, since the FCDO warns that vehicle crime is rising in Accra.

One last thought

The rules aren't complicated, but they're easy to forget in the excitement of planning a trip. Licence, IDP, passport copy, insurance details: four things in one wallet, and you'll breeze through almost every checkpoint you meet.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive in Ghana with a UK driving licence?

Yes, as a visitor, alongside a 1949 International Driving Permit, according to the UK FCDO. Carry both at all times.

Can I drive in Ghana with a US driver's licence?

Yes, with an International Driving Permit from AAA or AATA, according to the US State Department.

How long can I drive in Ghana on a foreign licence?

Citi Newsroom reports a 90-day limit for visitors. Longer stays require conversion via the DVLA.

Does Ghana drive on the left or right?

On the right, so UK drivers should take extra care.

What documents do police check at Ghanaian checkpoints?

The Ministry of Roads and Highways' guide lists your driving licence, IDP, ID or passport and the vehicle's roadworthiness certificate.

Is an IDP valid for long?

A 1949 IDP is generally valid for one year from issue, and only alongside your national licence.

Ready to drive?

Browse verified self-drive firms in Accra, or choose a chauffeur and leave the driving to a local.

Rules checked 13 October 2026 against FCDO, US State Department and DVLA sources. Always recheck before travel.

Sources (12)

Driving in Ghana with a UK or US Licence: Rules, IDP & Insurance