Know before you go
Driving in Antigua.
Antigua is a genuinely rewarding island to drive — small enough to cross in an hour, with beaches you simply cannot reach any other way. Here's everything visitors ask us.
The essentials
- Traffic keeps
- Left
- Local permit
- US$20
- Permit valid
- 3 months
- Speed limit
- 40 / 20 mph
Essential
The temporary driving permit
This is the one thing most visitors don't know before they arrive: your own driving licence does not, by itself, permit you to drive in Antigua and Barbuda. Every foreign driver is legally required to hold a temporary local permit.
It costs approximately US$20, remains valid for three months, and must be carried alongside your home licence whenever you drive.
Permits are issued by the Transport Board and at police stations — but you don't need to go anywhere. We handle the paperwork at pickup. Bring a valid licence from your country of residence and we'll take care of the rest.
US$20
Approximate cost of the permit
3 months
How long it stays valid
At pickup
Where we sort it for you
Rules of the road
Keep left. The rest is straightforward.
Drive on the left
Antigua follows the UK convention. The steering wheel may be on either side depending on the vehicle's origin, so trust the road, not the car. Our vehicles carry a reminder sticker on the windscreen.
Roundabouts
Traffic already on the roundabout has right of way. Approach slowly, look right, and give way before joining.
Speed limits
40mph on open roads, dropping to 20mph through main centres and villages. Enforcement is real, and the limits suit the roads.
Seat belts and phones
Seat belts are compulsory for every occupant, not just the driver. Using a handheld phone while driving is illegal.
Road surfaces
Main routes are generally well maintained, but road markings are often absent. Potholes and unsigned speed bumps appear with little warning — especially after rain. Take it steadily.
Livestock and pedestrians
Goats, and occasionally feral donkeys, wander onto rural roads. Villages have few pavements, so expect people walking in the carriageway after dark.
Common questions
Questions we get asked
Do I need a special licence to drive in Antigua?
Yes. A foreign driving licence on its own is not sufficient. Every visiting driver must hold a temporary Antiguan driving permit, which costs around US$20 and is valid for three months. We issue it for you at pickup — just bring your home licence.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Only if your home licence is not in the Latin alphabet — for example Arabic, Japanese or Russian — in which case an IDP serves as the translation. It does not replace the local Antiguan permit, which is still required.
Which side of the road does Antigua drive on?
The left, as in the UK. Our vehicles carry a windscreen reminder sticker, and most visitors find they have adjusted within the first few minutes.
What are the speed limits?
Generally 40mph on open roads and 20mph through main centres and villages. Seat belts are mandatory for every passenger, and using a phone while driving is illegal.
Can you deliver the car to the airport?
Yes. We meet arrivals at V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU), and we also deliver to hotels, villas and marinas anywhere on the island. Send us your flight number and we'll track it.
Still unsure about something?