The road network is in need of repair. Tarred roads of varying quality link the main towns in the central highlands and continue to the most populous parts of the east and northwest coasts. There are isolated sections of tarred road elsewhere, but dirt tracks are more common. Traffic drives on the right. A flat fare is charged, irrespective of the distance travelled.
Services can be unreliable and buses tend to be crowded.
Flat fares apply except in Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa, where fare is calculated according to whether the ride is confined to the 'lower town' or goes on to the 'upper town'. Fares should be agreed in advance and tipping is unnecessary. The pousse-pousse takes passengers except where traffic or gradient makes it impractical. Prices are not controlled and vary according to distance. A few covered wagons continue to take passengers in Antananarivo.