Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Nauru

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

left

Driving Side

steering wheel on the right

—

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

—

Motorway Limit

no motorway class

recommended

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

—

Rural / Open Road

—

Motorway / Highway

—

Note: Few formal limits on island ring road.

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 Nauru

General limit: No national limit set

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 Nauru can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Nauru on the Live Map

Nauru has a WHO-estimated 15.4 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Nauru.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Nauru'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

Marshall Islands Solomon Islands Tuvalu Vanuatu Micronesia Fiji

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Nauru drive on?

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

What is the drink-driving limit in Nauru?

Nauru has no verified national blood-alcohol limit — but driving impaired is dangerous and can still be prosecuted under general traffic law. The only safe amount is zero.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Nauru?

An IDP is recommended rather than strictly required for most visitors to Nauru — but rental companies and police may still ask for one, and it is cheap insurance.

Is it safe to drive in Nauru?

By the numbers, Nauru has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 15.4 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is close to the global average — it ranks 84 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. 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.