Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Timor-Leste

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

left

Driving Side

steering wheel on the right

0.05

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

—

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 Timor-Leste

General limit: 0.05 g/dL

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 Timor-Leste can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Timor-Leste on the Live Map

Timor-Leste has a WHO-estimated 12.7 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Timor-Leste.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Timor-Leste'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

Indonesia Brunei Australia Papua New Guinea Palau Philippines

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Timor-Leste drive on?

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

What is the drink-driving limit in Timor-Leste?

The general limit is 0.05 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Timor-Leste?

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

Is it safe to drive in Timor-Leste?

By the numbers, Timor-Leste has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 12.7 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is close to the global average — it ranks 109 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.