Driving in Mauritius: Licences, Rules and Buying a Car
Driving in Mauritius is on the left, as in the UK, and the FCDO says a UK photocard licence can be used there. We could not confirm how long a foreign licence stays valid once you live on the island, so check with the police Traffic Branch at Line Barracks, Port Louis, before you rely on it. The drink-drive limit is 9 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, and speed limits run from 110 km/h on a motorway to 30 km/h in streets. A car shipped in pays excise of 0% to 100% by engine size and fuel type plus 15% VAT, as the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) sets out, and we found no concession for newcomers.
Written for people who expect to drive after they move: the licence question, the road rules, and whether to buy a car there or ship one in.
Can you drive on your foreign licence?
The FCDO says a UK photocard licence can be used, and that a paper licence may need updating to a photocard first. Hire firms may ask for a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age or an International Driving Permit (IDP), and the tourism ministry’s visitor page says car hire needs a valid international licence.
We could not confirm how long a resident can keep driving on a foreign licence, and no official page we found gives a period. The Road Traffic Act forbids driving a motor vehicle on a road without a licence for that class of vehicle (section 40), with an exception for the holder of an international driving permit (section 40(3)), a term the Act defines to include a foreign licence or permit that regulations make valid in Mauritius. We could not find those regulations. Unofficial websites quote fixed periods; we leave them out. Since 30 September 2026, causing a death while driving without a licence or permit valid in Mauritius has been a separate offence, with up to 5 years in prison for a first conviction and at least 5 years’ disqualification.
The Licensing Office of the police Traffic Branch, at Line Barracks in Port Louis, handles licence applications and conversions, so ask there: licensing@govmu.org, or 212 6159 and 208 1212 (extension 1232, 1265 or 1543), with +230 in front when you call from abroad.
Converting a foreign licence to a Mauritian one
The Traffic Branch’s conversion list is written for people with a permit: it asks for a residence, work or occupation permit valid for six months from the day you apply, plus each of these as originals and photocopies:
- a letter of application to the Officer Commanding Traffic Branch, with your phone number and address;
- an attestation from the issuing authority that your licence is authentic;
- the foreign licence itself, front and back;
- proof of address, such as a rent book or lease agreement;
- your National Identity Card, passport or Unique Identification Number;
- a medical certificate of fitness to drive, if you are over 60;
- a marriage certificate, for married women and spouses of citizens;
- two recent passport-size photographs.
The page lists a conversion fee, payable once your application is approved; confirm the amount with the office. It sets no deadline for converting and says nothing about a driving test, so raise both there. It also lists an International Driving Permit for holders of a Mauritian licence: Rs 800, in about five working days.
Keep the licence on you. Section 46 of the Road Traffic Act obliges a driver to produce the licence, or an up-to-date same-size photocopy showing the latest endorsement, when a police officer asks. If you show neither, or only the photocopy, the officer may require the licence within 5 days at a police station you name. The Fourth Schedule fixes Rs 300 for failing to produce either on request and Rs 1,000 for missing the 5-day requirement. From 1 January 2027 a digital driving licence replaces the photocopy.
Ask in writing: email the Licensing Office how long your licence stays valid for a resident, and keep the dated reply to show if anyone queries your licence.
Speed limits, cameras and penalty points
The Traffic Branch publishes limits by vehicle type and road class, in km/h:
| Vehicle | Motorway | A road | B road | C road | Street |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car | 110 | 80 | 60 | 40 | 30 |
| Motorcycle | 80 | 60 | 60 | 40 | 30 |
| Bus up to 3.5 tonnes | 80 | 80 | 60 | 40 | 30 |
| Goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes | 80 | 60 | 60 | 40 | 30 |
| Bus or goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes | 70 | 60 | 60 | 40 | 30 |
| Any vehicle with a trailer | 60 | 60 | 60 | 40 | 30 |
The police page shows this table as an image, so we transcribed it; check it if you drive anything heavy or tow a trailer. Camera fines are Rs 2,500 for up to 15 km/h over the limit, Rs 5,000 for more than 15 and up to 25 km/h over, and Rs 10,000 beyond that, payable at a District Court within 28 days of the notice. From 30 October 2026 most fixed penalties can also be paid online, though not for offences that count towards a driving ban, such as speeding by more than 15 km/h.
Penalty points are coming back, but not yet. The Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2025 (Act No. 29 of 2025) re-introduces them from a date to be fixed by proclamation, and the National Assembly still lists it as awaiting one, so ask the Traffic Branch whether the system has started. The Act’s schedule gives 2 to 4 points for speeding by more than 15 and up to 25 km/h, 4 to 6 for more than 25 km/h and 2 to 4 for no seat belt, and a 2026 amendment sets 5 to 10 for using a handheld phone or other handheld device. Going over 15 points within 36 months (10 on a provisional licence) means a court disqualifies you for 6 to 12 months, and an international driving permit holder cannot drive in Mauritius for that time.
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Drink-driving, phones and seat belts
Drink-driving. The Traffic Branch gives the legal limits as 9 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, 20 milligrams per 100 ml of blood and 27 milligrams per 100 ml of urine. The FCDO describes this as about a quarter of England’s limit and says fines or imprisonment can apply even at that level. The police list these penalties for a conviction:
| Conviction | Fine | Prison | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Rs 20,000 to 50,000 | Up to 5 years | Disqualified for at least 12 months |
| Second or later | Rs 50,000 to 75,000 | 12 months to 8 years | Cancelled, and disqualified for at least 24 months |
Section 123F of the Act, as consolidated, sets the same fines and prison terms. Since 30 September 2026, under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2026, a driver suspected of drink or drug driving, or who refuses a test, goes before a magistrate once sober and can be banned from driving for up to 6 months before any conviction, handing in the licence that day. Its seizure of vehicles after failed drink or drug tests has no start date yet.
Phones. Since 30 September 2026, section 123AE bans using a handheld mobile phone, or another handheld device that can go online or send messages, such as a tablet, while driving a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle on a road or public place. The fixed penalty is Rs 3,000. The same Act revoked the vehicle regulation that also covered hands-free use, so ask the Traffic Branch how it now treats a hands-free kit.
Seat belts. A driver who does not wear a belt faces a fixed penalty of Rs 500, and driving with an unbelted person in the front costs Rs 300. The WHO’s 2023 country profile (secondary, not Mauritian law) reports that the belt law covers front and rear occupants and lists no national child restraint law. We could not check for a later regulation, so ask the Traffic Branch before you travel with young children.
How current are these amounts? The consolidated Act we read runs to 2016 and the 2026 changes come from the amending Act, so confirm any fine with the Traffic Branch.
What the roads are like
The FCDO says road accidents are common: motorbikes are slow and often unlit, some roads are narrow with no pavements, and pedestrians and cyclists use main roads, including motorways. It adds that during a cyclone you may not leave your accommodation, and car insurance often becomes invalid. Our cyclone season guide and safety guide cover the weather and wider risks.
The State Trading Corporation lists petrol (Mogas) at Rs 77.70 a litre and diesel (Gas Oil) at Rs 78.35 from 29 September 2026.
After an accident or breakdown
Keep three items in the car: yellow chalk or a yellow indelible marker (the FCDO expects drivers to carry one), a pair of triangular reflectors and an Agreed Statement of Facts form. The Act’s fixed penalties are Rs 300 for not carrying the reflectors, Rs 500 for not displaying them after an accident, breakdown or emergency, and Rs 300 for not carrying the form.
After a collision, the Act’s Fifth Schedule says to switch on the warning lights and put the reflectors a reasonable distance behind the vehicle. If a damaged vehicle is likely to block the road, mark its wheel positions and registration mark on the surface with the chalk or marker, then move it to the nearest safe place without waiting for the police. Do not admit liability: the insurers settle it from the form.
The Agreed Statement of Facts. Sections 68A to 68C let two drivers record a collision themselves if nobody is hurt, nothing else is damaged, both vehicles carry a valid insurance vignette, neither driver is unlicensed, drunk or on drugs, and neither vehicle is State-owned. Each signs the form in two originals and keeps one, then tells their insurer and sends it a copy within 5 days, and the accident need not be reported to the police. Or both can go to the nearest police station, where an officer helps complete and sign the form. If you cannot agree, either driver can ask the police to attend. Not carrying the form, or missing the 5-day step, is an offence with a fine of up to Rs 5,000.
The government’s hotline list gives police as 999 or 112, ambulance (SAMU) as 114 and fire as 115.
Buying a car or importing one
Buying on the island. We found no sourced price lists for cars sold in Mauritius. Ask dealers for a price including every tax and set it beside a written MRA calculation for the car you would ship.
Importing. The MRA charges customs duty of 0% on passenger cars (heading 87.03 of its Integrated Tariff as at 1 October 2026), so the cost is excise duty by engine size and fuel, plus 15% VAT. The excise rates for motor cars are:
| Engine size | Petrol or diesel | Hybrid or mild hybrid | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 550 cc | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 551 to 1,000 cc | 45% | 25% | 15% |
| 1,001 to 1,600 cc | 55% | 35% | 25% |
| 1,601 to 2,000 cc | 75% | 55% | 35% |
| Above 2,000 cc | 100% | 75% | 55% |
Electric cars pay 15% excise if their power is 180 kW or less and 25% above that.
For a used car, the MRA starts from the value of identical vehicles previously imported or, if it has none, the car’s retail price when new in the exporting country, less 5%. It then deducts 9% for the first month of use and 1% for each month after that, up to 50%. The page does not say what VAT is charged on; in its worked examples VAT is charged on the import value plus the excise, so it comes to more than 15% of the car’s value. No all-in cost is published, so ask the MRA for a written calculation.
Age and eligibility. The MRA’s prohibited and restricted goods list restricts second-hand cars under 18 months or over 4 years from first registration at the date of shipment, except for the first vehicle an individual importer brings in. It names the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection for second-hand vehicles, so ask the ministry and the MRA whether you need authorisation.
The Consumer Protection (Control of Imports) Regulations 2017 define an individual importer. The copy we read, held by the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (secondary, consolidated around 2019), covers a foreigner taking up employment, an investor, self-employed person or professional with an Occupation Permit of three years or more, a retired non-citizen with a residence permit, and an Integrated Resort Scheme property holder with a residence permit, each importing a car for own use from abroad without any transfer of funds from Mauritius. The car must be right-hand drive and registered in your name, with no bull bar. An MRA notice of 21 August 2026 refers to Amendment No. 3 Regulations 2026, which we could not find in consolidated form, so confirm today’s definition.
Concessions and household effects. The MRA’s list of concessions (1 October 2026) and its returning-citizen page have vehicle reliefs for returning Mauritian citizens, Diaspora Certificate holders and non-citizens covered by government agreements. We found none for foreign retirees, permit holders or other foreign buyers, so ask the MRA before assuming one. The household effects relief (item E9 of Part II of the Customs Tariff Act) does not appear to cover a car, since the baggage exemption beside it (item E8) excludes motor vehicles. Our first 30 days guide and shipping guide cover household effects.
Registration and contacts. The NLTA (nlta.govmu.org), the land transport body, covers registration and ownership transfer on its Registration procedures page, which lists an import permit among the documents for a second-hand imported vehicle. For import questions, the MRA’s Second Hand Vehicle Unit is on +230 202 0500 (extension 7085) or shv.customs@mra.mu.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of the road do they drive on in Mauritius?
On the left, as in the UK. For a car the limit is 110 km/h on a motorway, 80 km/h on an A road and 30 km/h in streets.
Can I drive in Mauritius on my foreign licence?
The FCDO says a UK photocard licence can be used, and car hire needs a valid international licence. We could not confirm how long a foreign licence stays valid for a resident, so check with the Licensing Office of the police Traffic Branch at Line Barracks, Port Louis, before you rely on it.
What is the drink-drive limit in Mauritius?
The police give the limit as 9 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, 20 milligrams per 100 ml of blood and 27 milligrams per 100 ml of urine. A first conviction carries a fine of Rs 20,000 to 50,000, up to 5 years in prison and disqualification for at least 12 months.
Can I import my car when I move to Mauritius?
Individuals do import cars, but excise of 0% to 100% by engine size and fuel type, 15% VAT and an age rule for second-hand cars apply. We found no concession for foreign retirees or permit holders, so ask the MRA for a written calculation before you ship.
Sources, checked 28 October 2026
Official Mauritian pages and Acts come first. The FCDO entry is UK travel advice, not Mauritian law, and two entries, the Chamber of Commerce copy of the import regulations and the WHO country profile, are marked secondary.
- Traffic Branch (Mauritius Police Force): the speed limits and camera fines, the drink-driving limits and penalties, and the documents and fee for converting a foreign licence.
- Mauritius: safety and security (FCDO, updated 19 October 2026): left-hand traffic, UK licences, hire firms, the yellow marker, the drink-drive comparison and road hazards.
- Road Traffic Act, consolidated (land transport division): sections 40, 46, 68A to 68C, 123F, 123LA and 123AE, the Third, Fourth and Fifth Schedules, and the fixed penalties quoted here.
- Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2025 (National Assembly) and the Cabinet highlights of 28 August 2026 (Prime Minister’s Office): penalty points, their ranges and the disqualification rules, and the bill that became the 2026 Act.
- Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2026 (Act No. 15 of 2026) and the table of Acts (National Assembly): the handheld device ban and its fixed penalty, the revoked hands-free regulation, the new offence of causing death without a licence, the magistrate’s orders, online payment, the digital driving licence, vehicle seizure, and when each part of the 2025 and 2026 Acts starts.
- Motor vehicles and the Integrated Tariff as at 1 October 2026 (MRA): the excise bands, VAT, the used-car valuation, 0% customs duty on cars and the MRA contacts.
- List of concessions (MRA, 1 October 2026) and its returning citizen page: the vehicle reliefs, none of which we found for foreign residents.
- Registration procedures (National Land Transport Authority): registering a car, transferring ownership and the documents for a second-hand imported vehicle.
- Prohibited and restricted goods (MRA) and the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection: the age rule for second-hand cars and the agency named for them.
- Customs Tariff Act, Part II exemptions (MRA, 1 September 2026): items E8 and E9, baggage and household effects.
- Consumer Protection (Control of Imports) Regulations 2017 (Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry copy, secondary) and the MRA notice of 21 August 2026: who counts as an individual importer, and the 2026 amendment.
- Retail prices (State Trading Corporation): petrol and diesel prices from 29 September 2026.
- Road safety country profile, Mauritius 2023 (WHO, secondary): the seat belt and child restraint position.
- Information for visitors (Ministry of Tourism): car hire needs a valid international licence.
- Government of Mauritius portal: the hotline list for police, ambulance and fire numbers.
General information only, not immigration, tax, legal or financial advice. Mauritius often changes these rules in its June Budget, so check the official pages above and speak to a qualified professional before you act.