Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Somalia

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

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

—

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: Alcohol prohibited.

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 Somalia

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 Somalia can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Somalia on the Live Map

Somalia has a WHO-estimated 27.1 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Somalia.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Somalia'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

Ethiopia Djibouti Kenya Yemen Eritrea Seychelles

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Somalia drive on?

Somalia drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in Somalia?

Somalia 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 Somalia?

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

Is it safe to drive in Somalia?

By the numbers, Somalia has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 27.1 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is well above the global average, so extra care is needed — it ranks 24 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives 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.