The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning for UK tourists regarding fuel supplies at petrol stations in Mozambique. The travel advice has been updated to include information about the unpredictable and inconsistent availability of fuel, even in major cities.
The FCDO advises: "Only travel by road outside major cities during daylight. Where possible, keep to major roads and travel in convoy in rural areas. Fuel supplies at petrol stations throughout Mozambique can be unpredictable and inconsistent, including in major cities."
Where fuel is available, queues can be long. Travellers are advised to check with tour operators in advance to ensure sufficient fuel is available for any organised travel, and to allow extra time for journeys.
Driving Requirements
If you plan to drive in Mozambique, you can use a UK photocard driving licence for up to 90 days. After that, you must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a Mozambican driving licence.
Drink-driving is a serious offence in Mozambique. If you are tested and found to have more than three-quarters of England’s legal limit of alcohol in your system, you may face a fine and possible imprisonment.
You are legally required to have third-party insurance, which you can buy at most land borders.
Police Checks and Fines
Traffic police may give you an on-the-spot fine if you cannot show your driving licence, ownership, and insurance documents. You must always carry two reflective triangles in your vehicle and wear a reflective vest when repairing, loading, or unloading a vehicle. Failure to produce these items can result in an on-the-spot fine.
Police officers frequently stop drivers to check paperwork and sometimes try to extract bribes. If police are fining you for no clear reason, ask for a written fine that you can pay at a police station.
