Car Rental in Bandar Seri Begawan (2026) - Driving Guide
Explore Bandar Seri Begawan with ease by renting a car-discover top things to do and find the best hotels while enjoying the city's unique charm on your own.
Driving Requirements
You may drive on a valid foreign licence for three months from date of entry. This is Bruneian law, not a rental whim. If the licence is not in English or Malay, carry an International Driving Permit alongside it. After three months of continuous stay, a Bruneian licence is required.
Law sets the minimum licence age for private cars. Rental firms add their own floors. Some rent from 21, others insist on 23 or 25. Below 25, expect young-driver surcharges. These rules are company policy, not statute, so phone ahead and confirm. Older drivers may also face limits at certain desks.
Every vehicle must carry third-party liability insurance. Rentals include this in the base rate. Firms also sell Collision Damage Waiver and extras that exceed the legal floor. These are optional yet recommended, since personal policies and credit cards rarely cover Brunei. Check your own coverage before duplicating.
A credit card in the primary driver's name is standard across Brunei. The card secures a pre-authorisation deposit released when the car comes back undamaged. This is a provider rule, not law. Debit cards are usually rejected for the hold. Deposit amounts vary by class and company. Ask when you book.
Brunei drives on the left. Adjust. Turning on red is banned unless a sign says otherwise. Treat every red as a full stop. Roundabouts rule Bandar Seri Begawan. Traffic already inside has right of way over newcomers.
Helpful Tips
Brunei International Airport (BWN) hosts the easiest rental counters for arrivals. City-centre offices in the Gadong commercial district can beat those prices and add flexibility. Late or early flights? Confirm counter hours before you reserve, because airport desks sometimes close early.
Before you accept the keys, photograph every dent and scratch. Have them written on the agreement. Brunei's roads are smooth. Yet gravel chips pepper quieter routes toward Temburong. Third-party liability is usually mandatory. Collision waivers differ by company. Read them, do not auto-decline.
Google Maps works well for major roads and landmarks in Bandar Seri Begawan. Coverage on rural and Kampong Ayer lanes can drop. Download an offline map of Brunei-Muara district before you leave. Rental GPS units may lag behind phone apps updated weekly.
Brunei sells unleaded petrol (RON 95 and RON 97) and diesel. Subsidised prices rank among Southeast Asia's lowest. Most rentals run on a full-to-full policy. Stations cluster along Jalan Tutong and around Gadong. Fill up before heading into rural zones where pumps are scarce.
Parking in central BSB, including the waterfront and government precinct, is free and usually easy. Spaces tighten on weekday afternoons near Gadong's shopping malls. Overnight street parking is common and unpaid across most residential and commercial blocks. Ask your hotel about reserved spots if you lodge in the compact centre.
Driving Warnings
Brunei drives on the left. Roundabouts dominate BSB. Priority goes to traffic already circulating. Visitors from Europe, North America, or most of Asia must override two instincts at once. Misjudging priority is the top cause of crashes involving foreigners.
Gadong commercial district and Jalan Tutong clog during weekday rush hours, 7:30, 9:00 am and 4:30, 6:30 pm. On Fridays the midday prayer period halts traffic through the city centre as offices and shops close. Plan around these windows, not through them.
Traffic police enforce strictly. Speed cameras watch major roads around BSB. Handheld phone use while driving draws fines. Seatbelts are compulsory for everyone. Do not expect the lax enforcement seen elsewhere in the region.
Tropical downpours peak from October through January. Flash floods can swamp low-lying roads in minutes. A passable stretch can turn lethal fast. Driving through standing water risks stalling, loss of steering, and being swept away.