Mozambique travel - Vehicle Safety Equipment

Border Crossings: Mandatory Documentation & Requirements (Vehicle Safety Equipment)

Mozambican law establishes strict requirements for vehicle safety equipment and markings. Compliance with these regulations is rigorously monitored by traffic police (transitos in white shirts and blue trousers) and serves as a frequent checkpoint during traffic stops. Get it wrong, and you're looking at fines – or worse, providing opportunities for corruption.

Understanding and complying with these requirements isn't just about avoiding hassles; it's about ensuring your safety on Mozambican roads and demonstrating that you're a responsible visitor who respects local laws.

1. Mandatory Basic Equipment (Carried Equipment)

Every vehicle must carry specific emergency equipment:

Red Warning Triangles

Two red warning triangles per vehicle are required.

Additional Requirement When Towing: If you're towing a trailer, caravan, or other towed vehicle, you need two additional warning triangles, bringing the total to four triangles.

Quality Matters: It's recommended to purchase quality triangles with side lengths of at least 425 mm. Cheap, flimsy triangles that collapse or blow over won't cut it.

Reflective Safety Vests (Fluorescent Safety Jackets)

The vehicle must be equipped with at least two reflective safety vests.

Color: Vests must be in luminous yellow or green. Standard orange construction vests won't meet the requirement.

When They Must Be Worn: Vests must be worn when the driver repairs the vehicle roadside, unloads cargo, or assists at an accident scene.

Storage Location: To ensure immediate availability, vests must be stored in the vehicle within the driver's reach – not in the trunk or other secured location where you can't access them quickly.

Quantity by Occupancy: The sources indicate that at least two vests are required, with some sources specifying that two vests are required when more than two people are traveling in the car. Other sources simply state two vests generally. One source suggests carrying a vest for each person in the vehicle to be safe.

Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is mandatory.

Size and Type: The recommended size is 1 kg. The capacity should be at least 0.75 kg for light vehicles.

Requirement vs. Recommendation: Some sources recommend carrying a fire extinguisher only "for safety" (recommended for good measure). However, other sources list it as mandatory (compulsory or required). Treat it as mandatory to be safe.

Storage: It should be within reach of the driver.

Spare Set of Vehicle Keys

Carrying an additional/duplicate set of car keys is required. Losing your only key in rural Mozambique creates a logistical nightmare – bring a spare.

2. Mandatory Vehicle Markings

Specific reflective markings are required, particularly when towing a trailer.

Country Identification (ZA Sticker)

Every vehicle entering Mozambique must display a country identification sticker (e.g., ZA for South Africa).

Placement: The sticker must be affixed to the right rear (driver's side) of the vehicle and trailer.

Distance: It must be placed more than 150 mm from the license plate.

Blue-and-Yellow Warning Triangles (Towing Stickers)

These stickers are mandatory when towing a trailer, boat, caravan, or other vehicle.

Quantity and Placement: Two stickers are required:

1. One must be affixed to the right front (driver's side) of the towing vehicle (e.g., on the bumper)
2. The second must be affixed to the right rear (driver's side) of the towed equipment (trailer/boat/caravan)

Critical Tip (Non-Towing): It is strongly recommended to affix the blue-and-yellow triangle sticker to the front of your vehicle even if not towing a trailer to avoid being stopped by traffic police who assume you should have one.

Reflective Tape on Trailers

Trailers must have:

• Rectangular white reflectors on the front
• Rectangular red reflectors on the rear
• Continuous horizontal amber (yellow) reflective tape along the sides and rear

Pay Special Attention: Ensure the yellow tape runs horizontally across the rear of the trailer, as this is often missing and provides grounds for stops and fines.

Reflectors for Long Vehicles

Vehicles longer than 6 meters must have reflectors on the front and rear. Another source specifies that all vehicles must affix two small white rectangles as honeycomb strips on the front bumper and two small red squares on the rear bumper.

3. Recommended But Not Mandatory Equipment

In addition to mandatory equipment, the sources recommend additional items that enhance operational safety:

Spare Wheel and Tools

Although not legally required, it's recommended to carry a maintained and inflated spare wheel with adequate tread depth, a car jack, and a wheel spanner (lug wrench).

Attempting to drive Mozambican roads without a spare tire is reckless. Roads can be rough, punctures are common, and assistance may be hours away.

Other Useful Items

Recommended but not mandatory items include:

• Copies of passport and driver's license
• Air compressor for inflating tires after driving on sand
• Shovel (invaluable for sand driving or getting unstuck)
• Jerry can for spare fuel

The Enforcement Reality

Traffic police in Mozambique know these requirements intimately and know that foreign tourists often don't. Missing equipment creates an easy opportunity for fines – legitimate or otherwise.

Common Violations That Attract Attention:

• Missing blue-and-yellow triangle stickers on the front of vehicles
• Reflective vests stored in the trunk instead of within driver's reach
• Only one warning triangle when four are required (when towing)
• Missing or improperly placed country identification stickers
• Absence of reflective tape on trailers

Smart Compliance Strategy

Buy Everything Before You Go: Purchase all required equipment in South Africa before crossing. It's cheaper, easier, and you'll have time to properly install markings without pressure.

Quality Over Price: Invest in quality equipment that won't fail when you need it. A cheap fire extinguisher that doesn't work or a flimsy triangle that blows over in the wind is worse than useless.

Proper Installation: Take time to properly affix all stickers and markings according to specifications. Measure distances, ensure stickers are visible and secure, and verify everything is in the correct location.

Keep Everything Accessible: Store warning triangles, vests, and fire extinguisher where you can access them immediately – not buried under luggage in the trunk.

Document Everything: Take photos of your installed markings and stored equipment. If questioned, you can quickly demonstrate compliance.

The Bottom Line: Details Matter

The vehicle safety equipment requirements in Mozambique are specific and complex, exceeding the standards of many other countries. Strict compliance with regulations for two red triangles, two warning vests, and blue-and-yellow triangle markings (especially when towing) are crucial for a trouble-free journey.

Think of these requirements not as bureaucratic annoyances but as safety measures that could save your life – and as insurance against complications with traffic police. The cost of full compliance is modest (under R500 for everything), but the cost of non-compliance – in fines, delays, and stress – can be substantial.

Get equipped, get compliant, and get going with confidence.