Road trip tips for crossing South African borders easier

If you’re planning a cross border road trip, whether to the beach in Mozambique or on safari in Botswana, it’s important to make sure you follow these tips to have an easy and hassle-free trip.

Visas

• As long as you’re travelling on a South African passport you won’t need visas for any of the neighbouring countries. If you have a different passport, it’s best to check any visa requirements ahead of time.

Permission letter

• If your vehicle is financed you’ll need a letter from the bank permitting to take the vehicle out the country and a certified copy of your registration papers. If you own the car, just the registration papers are enough. You will also need a letter of permission from the rental company if the vehicle is a rental.

ZA sticker

• Your car should also display a “ZA” sticker to show that it is a foreign vehicle from South Africa.

Insurance

• It’s important to contact your insurance company and ensure you’re covered for cross-border travel before leaving – you might need to update your policy.
• You will generally also be required to purchase third-party insurance and/or permits at the border. It’s best to have cash available in the currency of the country you’re visiting as card machines may be offline or unavailable, and Rands may not be accepted.

Unabridged birth certificates

• As with travelling overseas, if you’re with children you will need a copy of their unabridged birth certificates and a permission letter from the other parent if both parents are not travelling with them.

Country requirements

• There may also be specific requirements for the country you’re visiting, for instance in Zimbabwe you’re required to have two small white reflective strips on each side of your front bumper and two small red reflective strips on your rear bumper. In Mozambique if you’re towing a trailer you’re required to have a small yellow and blue warning triangle sticker on the front of your vehicle and another on the rear of the trailer. If you don’t comply with these requirements you risk being fined.

Is your car prepared for the road trip?

Before embarking on this adventure to another country, make sure your car services are up to date to better ensure a smooth journey. With a Service Plan through MotorHappy, you can keep your car service fee out of your holiday budget thanks to our easy monthly payment plans.