Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Maldives

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Maldives — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

left

Driving Side

steering wheel on the right

0.00

BAC Limit (g/dL)

zero tolerance

—

Motorway Limit

no motorway class

required

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

30 km/h

Rural / Open Road

—

Motorway / Highway

—

Note: Alcohol banned; local permit needed.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Maldives

General limit: Zero tolerance (0.00)

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Maldives can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Maldives on the Live Map

Maldives has a WHO-estimated 0.9 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Maldives.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Maldives's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Sri Lanka India Seychelles Oman Bangladesh Somalia

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Maldives drive on?

Maldives drives on the left-hand side of the road (like the UK, Japan and Australia).

What is the drink-driving limit in Maldives?

Maldives has a zero-tolerance drink-driving law: any measurable alcohol while driving is an offence. Alcohol banned; local permit needed.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Maldives?

Yes — an IDP (or a locally issued permit) is required or strongly enforced for foreign visitors driving in Maldives. Alcohol banned; local permit needed.

Is it safe to drive in Maldives?

By the numbers, Maldives has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 0.9 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is among the safest countries in the world to drive in — it ranks 195 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the left, which takes getting used to if you normally drive on the right. Any alcohol at all is illegal behind the wheel. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.