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Rules for overlanding in Mauritius

Updated October 2026

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 23 February 2026.

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Which driving licence do I need in Mauritius?

• All vehicles — An Italian licence is recognised, but to make checks easier for local police the ministry recommends getting a temporary local licence from the Traffic Branch office at Line Barracks, Port Louis. Check what applies to the licence you hold.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

• Driving someone else's vehicle — Carry a letter of authority from the owner with the signature notarised.
• What insurance do I need to drive in Mauritius? — You must take out third-party liability cover with a local company.
• What do I need to bring my own vehicle into Mauritius? — A vehicle can be brought in for six months, extendable, and a carnet de passages en douane is compulsory. The documents must be in the name of the vehicle's owner or importer, and without the carnet a deposit in the form of a bank guarantee covering the duties and taxes due is required.
• Left-hand traffic — Mauritius drives on the left and overtakes on the right.
• Are helmets and seatbelts compulsory in Mauritius? — Helmets are compulsory for rider and passenger on motorcycles over 50 cc. Driver and front passengers must wear seatbelts where the seat has one, unless there is a valid reason for exemption.
• What is the drink-driving limit in Mauritius? — The limit is 0.05%. Fines go up to 25,000 MUR and prison is provided for even on a first offence, and police can require a breath test, a blood sample or a urine test.
• Roads and accidents — The road network is generally in good condition, but traffic conditions cause a lot of accidents, some of them fatal. Every accident must be reported promptly to the local tourist police, reachable anywhere on the island on 213 2818.
• What happens if I get a traffic fine in Mauritius? — Police are not authorised to collect fines for traffic offences on the spot.

What catches travellers out

• Drugs and rolling papers — Drug penalties are very severe and can reach life imprisonment depending on the case, with no release on bail even for minor offences. Possessing or importing cigarette rolling papers is illegal too.
• Banned at the border — Bringing in food products, plants and seeds, and spearfishing equipment is prohibited. Some medicines — hypnotics, morphine, strong tranquillisers or painkillers — need authorisation from Mauritian consular authorities, and the limit on importing foreign currency is 12,000 euros.
• Travelling with a pet — Dogs and cats need an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture plus a certificate from a vet in the country of origin. Quarantine runs from five days to a month.
• Renting a vehicle — There is a minimum age and a minimum time since your licence was issued. Ask the rental company before you count on it.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 23 February 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Mauritius before you travel. Where a guide's profile shows “Licence verified”, we found that licence in the official public register; otherwise GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 23 February 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 7 October 2026.