Mauritius road-safety reference

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Q: Can I drive with a photocopy of my licence in Mauritius?

All drivers in Mauritius are authorized to drive with a photocopy of their license. If a driver's license has been endorsed, Section 46 (1) of the Road Traffic Act requires a full-size photocopy showing the latest endorsement if the original is not carried. The fine for non-compliance is Rs 2000.

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20 mg

Legal blood-alcohol limit, per 100 ml

Rs 500

Driving test / application fee

Age 18

Minimum age for a private car learner licence

5 days

To surrender a licence after disqualification

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Useful to know

One quick road-safety fact

In Mauritius, the driving side is on the left, and the steering wheel is on the right.

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Licensing explained

What can happen to a driving licence?

Five terms that are easy to confuse, compared at a glance, with the full detail below for anyone who needs it.

Comparison of driving licence penalties in Mauritius
Term	What happens	Decided by	Getting it back
Disqualification	Removes the privilege to drive, or to apply for a provisional (learner) licence.	Court of law	Has a fixed expiry date.
Suspension	Temporary removal of the licence, coupled with a disqualification.	Court of law	Must be surrendered to the Court within 5 days — Rs 10,000 fine and up to 1 year in prison if not.
Cancellation	Loses the licence for all vehicle types.	Court of law	No automatic return — must reapply as a new provisional licence holder and retake all tests.
Revocation	Usually issued for health reasons.	Licensing Officer, Traffic Branch	Rarely returned; appeal within 8 days to the Magistrate, District Court of Port Louis (First Division).
Endorsement	A conviction or disqualification is recorded on the licence (l'encre rouge).	Recorded after a court conviction	Stays on record — a full photocopy showing it must be carried if the original isn't (Rs 2,000 fine for non-compliance).

Licence copies: all drivers may drive with a photocopy of their licence. If yours has been endorsed, Section 46(1) of the Road Traffic Act requires a full-size photocopy showing the latest endorsement whenever the original isn't carried.

L'encre Rouge

View an endorsed licence

Traffic offender information Drink & drug driving All traffic fines

If your licence is suspended

Rehabilitation & part disqualification

The mandatory course, step by step, with the important warnings kept visible.

Mandatory rehabilitation course

Important: the rehabilitation course is delivered under the authority of the Commissioner of Police, with MITD currently designated but subject to change at the Commissioner's discretion.

1
Wait for your Traffic Branch letter
After your court hearing and penalties, you will receive a letter from the Traffic Branch. Report in person to the Professional Drivers Training Centre, Forest Side (Tel: 664 0048/82). If the letter doesn't arrive promptly, contact the Traffic Branch Disqualification Office without delay — enrolment depends strictly on this letter.
2
Enrol and pay Rs 1,000
Enrol in either the Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course or the Traffic Offenders Course, as applicable, and pay the Rs 1,000 enrolment fee.
3
Attend the one-day course
A theory course held from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
4
Collect your certificate
Issued three weeks after course completion. At the end of your disqualification period, present it in person at the Traffic Branch, Line Barracks, to have your licence reinstated.
5
Stay off the road until it's returned
Important: you remain disqualified until your licence is returned by the Licensing Officer. Driving during disqualification is a serious offence, and your insurance is inoperative during this period.
6
Fresh conviction, fresh course
A new rehabilitation course is required for each fresh court conviction.

Course / traffic offender information

What is part disqualification / suspension?

When a driver is penalised for a road traffic or drink & drug driving offence, their licence is suspended for a period decided by a Court of law. A driver may submit a request, with valid reason, to the Court's Magistrate to be allowed to drive a specific vehicle during the suspension period — even if only licensed for one type or class of vehicle.

Example: if you hold only a private car licence, the Magistrate may allow you to drive even where the law states all licence types should be cancelled. The Magistrate may or may not grant the request, even for a legitimate reason.

Penalty points calculator

Getting licensed

Applying for a driving licence

Key reference information for new and existing drivers.

Driving licence application

In the Republic of Mauritius, all driving licence applications must be made at the Traffic Branch of the Police headquarters in Port Louis. All applications, and subsequent applications, are made against a payment of Rs 500.

Category	Minimum requirement
Private car (learner)	Age 18
Lorry / other heavy vehicle	Held a competent private car licence ≥ 6 months
Earth-moving equipment, skid steer, forklift, backhoe, excavator	Held a competent private car licence ≥ 6 months

Explore Bus / heavy vehicle information

Can I use my own car for the private car test?

Yes — a candidate may use their own car for the driving test, provided they pay for a special one-day insurance cover, and are accompanied by a person who has held a valid private car driving licence for two years or more. The Road Traffic Act does not require a candidate to go through a driving school to attempt the test. The same applies to all other licence types.

Official Police guidelines

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Road Traffic ActLegal reference

Road traffic finesList of offences and fines

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Drink & drug drivingOffences and rehabilitation information

Insurance Act 2005Important facts

Insurance informationEssential insurance information

Accident insurance guidePractical reference after a crash

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Licensing explained, in full

Detailed definitions

The complete wording for each term, if you want more than the table above.

Disqualification

This is the act of removing a driver's privilege to drive a vehicle on public roads or apply for a provisional (learner) license in Mauritius. A disqualification period has an expiry date.

Suspension

This is the temporary removal of a driver's license to drive a vehicle; it is a penalty coupled with a driver's disqualification. It is very important for a disqualified driver to surrender their driving license to the Court within 5 days. Failure to do so can result in a fine of Rs 10,000 and a 1-year prison sentence.

Cancellation

This is a penalty where the driver loses their license for all types of vehicles. After the disqualification, the driver will need to submit a new application for a provisional (learner) license and retake all the driving tests.

Revocation

This penalty can only be issued by the Licensing Officer from the Traffic Branch. When this officer revokes a license, it is usually for health reasons. When a license is revoked, it is unlikely to be returned. An appeal can be made within 8 days of the revocation to the Magistrate of the District Court of Port Louis (First Division).

Endorsement

This is an order that the details of a conviction or disqualification to which a convicted person is subject are to be added to the offender's driving license (L'encre Rouge).