Barbados is a beautiful island nation, known for its beautiful beaches and friendly locals. It’s the perfect place for your summer vacation. If you want to make the most of your trip and see the sites, you’ll need to hire a car.
Here are some things to know when it comes to driving in Barbados.
What’s It Like To Drive In Barbados?
Road Rules – Barbados is very similar to the UK in its rules. Cars drive on the left side of the road and there are roundabouts where you need to give way to the right. If you’re unfamiliar.
There are a large number of hire cars on the roads, which you can identify by the letter H on the license plate.
Safety laws on the island state that all children five years and under must use a car seat.
Speed Limits – The speed limits when driving in Barbados vary depending on location but generally they are:
- 40km/h or 25mph – cities or built-up areas
- 60km/h or 38mph – rural roads
- 80km/h or 50mph – motorways
Some of the roads outside of the populated areas are not well lit or signposted so try to get a car with a SatNav
Parking – The parking situation in Barbados is fairly low tech and stress-free. Free parking areas are designated with the letter P.
Rush Hour – 7:00 am – 8:30am and 4:30pm – 5:30pm
What Kind Of License Do I Need?
You’ll need to hold an International Driver’s Permit or a valid driver’s license from your home country. You’ll then need to buy a visitor’s permit to drive/hire a car.
The price of a visitor permit can range from 10 BBD ($5) for a two-month permit to 100 BBD ($50) for a one year permit. You can pick up a permit at all car hire shops on the island.
Hiring A Car
Cost – It costs approximately £38 per day depending on the type of vehicle you need. Most car hire shops will not accept cash so make sure you have a credit card handy.
Where To Hire A Car – There are car hire shops all over the island so you’ll always be able to find a vehicle. Some places are better than others, so do your research and book online before you travel. That way you’ll be guaranteed to get the type of car you want, often at a better price than if you just turned up on the day.
If you need to fill up with petrol, you’ll be paying approximately $1.96 per liter for petrol and $1.57 per liter for diesel.
Age Requirement – you need to be 21 or over to hire a car. Some hire companies require you to have at least 2 years of driving experience, some want 5.
If you are over the age of 70, you will need to have a medical certificate stating your fitness to drive.