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Which countries do NOT allow right hand drive vehicles? Which countries do NOT allow right hand drive vehicles?
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  #1  
Old 15 Sep 2020
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Which countries do NOT allow right hand drive vehicles?
Hi there

As a German I usually own left hand drive vehicles. But now for the first time my next vehicle for travelling will be a right hand drive. That's why I need to know if there are any countries in the world that forbid to enter with a right hand drive, and if yes what countries.

I remember e.g. that in 2013 when we entered Saudi-Arabia we were told that a right hand drive could not enter, but would have to be transported on a truck for transit.

Maybe my question is interesting for more people, then we could make a list. Or maybe a thread does already exist and I did not find it???

Thank you for helping

Ulla
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  #2  
Old 15 Sep 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ulla View Post
Hi there

As a German I usually own left hand drive vehicles. But now for the first time my next vehicle for travelling will be a right hand drive. That's why I need to know if there are any countries in the world that forbid to enter with a right hand drive, and if yes what countries.

I remember e.g. that in 2013 when we entered Saudi-Arabia we were told that a right hand drive could not enter, but would have to be transported on a truck for transit.

Maybe my question is interesting for more people, then we could make a list. Or maybe a thread does already exist and I did not find it???

Thank you for helping

Ulla
I think Costa Rica does not accept right hand drive into the country
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  #3  
Old 15 Sep 2020
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It would be good to see some confirmation of the following however I believe that PRC, Ghana, and KSA do not permit RHD vehicles HOWEVER it’s not clear whether the first two do permit the temporary entry of RHD vehicles on carnets. KSA has not yet accepted carnets and I understand still do not permit RHD vehicles to drive (as you say, they have to be carried across the country). re Costa Rica, www.hacienda.go.cr/ makes no mention of RHD vehicles in its rules for temporary entry of foreign vehicles.
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Old 15 Sep 2020
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It would be good to see some confirmation of the following however I believe that PRC, Ghana, and KSA do not permit RHD vehicles HOWEVER it’s not clear whether the first two do permit the temporary entry of RHD vehicles on carnets. KSA has not yet accepted carnets and I understand still do not permit RHD vehicles to drive (as you say, they have to be carried across the country). re Costa Rica, www.hacienda.go.cr/ makes no mention of RHD vehicles in its rules for temporary entry of foreign vehicles.
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  #5  
Old 16 Sep 2020
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Info here

https://overlandingassociation.org/lhd-rhd/
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  #6  
Old 16 Sep 2020
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Thank you for your answers so far.

@TheWarden:The Link is very useful, but it seems to be from 2016, i.e. not really what the rules are now...

Hope you are all well in these difficult times

Ulla
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  #7  
Old 16 Sep 2020
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Info on the map is updated as and when new information is available or reported by overlanders.

The FB groups are worth joining to get upto date info from current travellers. The Overlanding South America group alone has 10k members so a vast pool of information and experience
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Old 17 Sep 2020
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Some years ago when travelling in South America I met a British couple with a RHD Land Rover they had just managed to get into Chile after the intervention of the British embassy who pointed out to Chilean customs that as Chile was signatory to some international agreement on the temporary importation of vehicles their ban on RHD was illegal.
I cannot remember any more than that or say that this would work elswhere or still in Chile for that matter but does highlight that some customs confuse temporary with permanent importation.
I would say that enough people travel the world with RHD that it should not stop the OP buying whatever vehicle they are considering if it happens to be particularly suitable in all other ways.
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  #9  
Old 17 Sep 2020
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Originally Posted by mark manley View Post
Some years ago when travelling in South America I met a British couple with a RHD Land Rover they had just managed to get into Chile after the intervention of the British embassy who pointed out to Chilean customs that as Chile was signatory to some international agreement on the temporary importation of vehicles their ban on RHD was illegal.
I cannot remember any more than that or say that this would work elswhere or still in Chile for that matter but does highlight that some customs confuse temporary with permanent importation.
I would say that enough people travel the world with RHD that it should not stop the OP buying whatever vehicle they are considering if it happens to be particularly suitable in all other ways.
This is when a carnet is valuable - Chile is a signatory to the protocol hence as long as a vehicle complies with safety rules in the country of registration and those in the country visited, it's legal to drive it. KSA is not yet a signatory, and this is why they can prohibit RHD vehicles. Presumably when they sign up (allegedly in process) RHD vehicles will be allowed.
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  #10  
Old 18 Sep 2020
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Dear Friend,

I came across a very good article to highlight the question you asked.
https://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/l...ing-countries/
The above link shows a world map which displays the left/righ hand traffic country wise. Green coloured countries drive on the right, orange countries drive on the left.

Hope this will help.
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