Zambia allows foreigners to drive vehicles only if they can produce international driving permit issued under the 1949 or 1926 Conventions of the United Nations. Citizens of Zambia may bring a vehicle but has fourteen days to ensure it is registered. Foreigners have 365 days to register a vehicle brought into the country. Any vehicle that’s issued under an international certificate and brought in Zambia is not regarded as a public service vehicle. A unique plate has to be placed at the back of a trailer if it is a motor vehicle drawing trailer. The following conditions apply when driving in Zambia:
- Minimum driving age is 18 years
- Children cannot seat on the front passenger seat
- All vehicle occupants must fasten safety belts otherwise nobody is permitted to travel without complying with this rule.
- The maximum alcohol level in driver’s blood is 0.08%
- Vehicles must maintain being driven on the left-hand side of the driver
- All vehicles must have third-party insurance cover
- Drivers must maintain a speed of 15km/h or less within 100 meters of bridge
- Drivers should not exceed speeds of 100 km/h and 50 km/h outside cities and in the cities
- Drivers should not use mobile phones while operating vehicles unless the device has a hands-free system
- Motorcyclists must wear helmets
- Drivers should maintain 10 km/h on roadway approaches, and when embarking or disembarking from a pontoon, the speed is limited to 5 km/h
- Police phone number is 993
Some foreigners may want to rent vehicles, and this requires that the driver be over 21 years old and hold a driving license for a year or more. The Zambian government does not permit one to import a vehicle without safety belts. Traffic officers in uniform and holding police identity card have permission to check your car. You should beware that during the rainy seasons (October-March), you should use a 4WD since some roads are dry weather roads and lack shoulders. There are no toll roads in Zambia and always ensure you carry your driving documents and vehicle documents while traveling.
