Do I need international driving permit for Solomon Islands?

Although it is not required to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) for Solomon Islands, many tourists highly recommend getting an International Driver’s Permit if they want to drive around this foreign country using a motor vehicle that you rented from local car rental companies.

An IDP is not a standalone document. However, it is an additional document that can support your proof of identity, which is your valid driver’s license, especially when you cannot communicate in their language or if your license is not in English.

Our IDP is recognized in 165 countries and more, including the following countries:

• Papua New Guinea
• Vanuatu
• Fiji
• Brazil
• United Kingdom
• South Africa
• Philippines
• and more.

How to get international driving license for Solomon Islands?

If you want to drive on the main roads of Solomon Islands, your eligibility should be provided to ensure that you are an experienced driver in your home country. That’s why if you want to drive some motorcycles or a car in another country, you need to get an IDP to support your valid driving licence.

Follow these steps to successfully get your IDP processed.

1. Click the "Apply For IDP" button anywhere on the page.
2. Fill out the short quiz.
3. Please read the page's instructions on the next page before you start the process. This will take about three minutes or less.
4. Prepare your valid driver's license, passport size photos, phone number, and other required documents.
5. Please double-check that all the information you've given is correct before you click "Next."
6. Put in all the information that is on your driver's license. Fill out the next page with your information.
7. Again, please make sure it's right.
8. Choose the classes for your license.
9. You'll need to upload a copy of your valid driver's license and your passport size photos
10. Note that your passport-sized photo must be of you looking straight at the camera.
11. Then, type in your credit card’s details to pay the fee.
12. Once you're done, we'll send you email updates about where your IDP is in the shipping process.

Any foreign tourist who wants to drive in the country for less than three months can do so with only an IDP as agreed upon by the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic by the United Nations. However, if you intend to drive in the country for more than that, there will be an additional document that will be requested, and this includes a local license in the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands offers tourists an intriguing mix of history and unspoiled natural beauty. It is home to majestic coral reef-rimmed lagoons, pristine beaches, tropical forests, waterfalls, so outdoor adventure is out there waiting to be discovered. With the wartime wrecks and abundant marine biodiversity, the country is also one of the world's best diving sites. Take your much-needed digital detox and break and visit the undiscovered haven of the Solomon Islands.

Dive Munda

The Solomon Islands is deemed one of the last frontiers in the southern Pacific. Dive Munda is one of the best diving sites in the country, and it promotes sustainable ecotourism. They concern themselves mainly with promoting the natural beauty of the island while protecting its pristine marine ecosystem. With its multi-awarded service, many tourists come back to dive with their seasoned diving instructors. It is best to visit them between December and February.

Bask on the beautiful coastline as you relax on the sandy beach. You can pick to take dive trips with a professional diving instructor in the morning or the afternoon. Cave diving is undoubtedly a must-try in Dive Munda. You will start your dive trip in a short tunnel situated in the jungle, and you will emerge in the ocean. Explore the majestic coral reefs and amazing marine biodiversity as you dive. You'll also have the chance to meet turtles, dolphins, and sea cows.

Solomon Islands National Museum

If you want to visit the Solomon Islands and learn more about its history, the Solomon Islands National Museum is the best place to go. There will be a group of friendly and accommodating staff to guide you to explore the modest museum. You don't have to spend any entrance fee, but donations are greatly appreciated. Displays and artifacts are mostly old photographs, body ornaments, weaponry, and archaeology of the country's ancestors.

Although the museum is small compared to museums in western countries, it has a separate place for gift shops where you can find many local handicrafts. Buy your friends and family some souvenirs so that you can share your experiences with them in the country, even with a small token. These little tokens can also help the locals' and the Solomon Islands' tourism. The museum operates from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays, and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.

Honiara Botanical Gardens

Situated in Rove, Honiara is this ecological treasure trove that you should visit if you want to be surrounded by the beauty of nature. Go on a road trip and have some quiet time in this garden to see colorful foliage and flowers. It is filled with a series of woodland trails that you can discover. As you hike, you can see remnants of what used to be sites for World War II bases for Japanese and American troops.

The orchid house contains various species of orchids. Several of these species can only be found in the Solomon Islands. You can also visit the scary hanging site where many capital punishments happened during the British Colonial rule. Besides that, you can also chill and enjoy your lunch at the site because there is a newly installed picnic area that you can lounge at. Make sure to visit between May and October to see the flowers in full bloom.

Bloody Ridge

Bloody Ridge, or Edson's Ridge, is a place that witnessed one of the most brutal battles during World War II, which claimed almost 40,000 lives. Its haunting and intriguing history has made tourists venture into this place. A national park was built on Bloody Ridge in 2018, and you can see a monument that symbolizes the pivotal battle. Unlike its grim history, this place will now serve as a testament to peace, unity, and friendship.

Tourists usually come here to enjoy the majestic views of Mt. Austen and the surrounding valleys and villages. Some bring food to have some picnic while relaxing in the solace of the place. It is also for people on a pilgrimage.

Mbonege Beach

Calling all divers and snorkelers, Mbonege Beach in west Honiara will be an oasis and playground for you. You can see two large Japanese freighters, Bonegi I and Bonegi II, that sank offshore in 1942. It's terrific to visit between June and September to enjoy the dry season and swim all you want.

Explore the wreckage and colorful coral reefs below with an experienced guide and dive instructor. The large hull has turned into a habitat for rich marine life, so you can mingle with snappers, sweetlips, batfish, lionfish, and more when you dive at Mbonege Beach.

Guadalcanal American Memorial

If you want a place where you can have a full view of Honiara town, you can visit Guadalcanal American Memorial. You can find it on Skyline Ridge. It is open on the weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm.

Tourists drop by this place to learn about the effects of the island's battles and take pictures with the 24-foot tall tower. The memorial is built to commemorate the people who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Solomon Islands in World War II. The tour is insightful and eye-opening for many tourists.

Reaching a new country on your bucket list can be thrilling, but it's also important to know and follow that country's driving rules. You might find that the road conditions and Solomon Islands driving rules are different from what you're used to back home. This could cause problems if you don't understand them fully. So, make sure to familiarize yourself with the driving rules of the Solomon Islands for a smooth, worry-free trip.

Drunk-driving is punishable by law

Drunk-driving in the Solomon Islands is an offense under the Traffic Act. The permitted blood alcohol level is 0.08%. No local driver or tourist is permitted to drive if they exceed the permitted blood alcohol level. Drunk-driving topped the traffic violations in Honiara last May 2020.

Once the police find a driver under the influence of liquor that exceeds the limit, they have the power to detain the vehicle and the driver for alcohol impairment. Moreover, they can arrest any driver or person suspected of being unfit to drive due to alcohol and may also impound the vehicle with additional penalties. Police always advise drivers to think ahead before consuming alcohol and not taking their lives into their hands because of drunk-driving.

Maximum Speed Limit

Over speeding is one of the major contributing factors in road accidents in the Solomon Islands. It is always advised to follow the driving speed imposed because its road conditions are still not well-maintained.

Inside the Solomon Islands cities, the speed limit is 40 Kph, while outside the cities, the speed limit is 60 Kph. When you are traveling in areas near schools or with pedestrians, always slow down. If you are convicted of overspeeding, you may also pay a $700 fine or face six months of imprisonment. A reckless driver who causes another person's death by driving can be sentenced to five years of imprisonment.