Panama
Driving Abroad
Last verified August 15, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Driving as a Tourist
- Under Panama's Vehicular Transit Regulations (Article 110), foreign tourists can drive using a valid license from their home country for up to 90 days from entry; they're not permitted to obtain a Panamanian license or extend that 90-day driving window while on tourist status.
- An International Driving Permit isn't legally required, but it's a widely recommended Spanish-language supplement to your home license, useful if you're stopped and the officer isn't familiar with foreign license formats.
Road Basics for Americans
- Like the U.S., Panama drives on the right side of the road, so the basic flow of traffic will feel familiar.
- Speed limits and distances are posted in kilometers (km/h), not miles. A 100 km/h limit is about 62 mph; a 50 km/h limit, common in towns, is about 31 mph.
The Gotcha
This is a real trap given how generous Panama's tourist entry is: U.S. citizens get a full 180 days as a visa-free tourist, but the separate driving privilege granted to that same tourist status expires at 90 days, exactly half your allowed stay. Immigration stamping you in for 180 days doesn't mean you can legally drive for 180 days; those are two different clocks, and only one of them matches your visa.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Reglamento de Tránsito Vehicular (Art. 110) (Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (ATTT), Panamá)