Car Hire in Antigua and Barbuda

Driving in Antigua and Barbuda: Essential Rules

• Side of the road: Traffic drives on the left, and most vehicles are right-hand drive. Overtaking is on the right, and roundabouts are taken clockwise, giving way to vehicles already on the roundabout from your right.
• Local driving permit: A home licence is not enough on its own. Visitors need a local temporary driving permit, which costs about US$20 and is valid for three months. It is carried with your home licence, and an International Driving Permit does not replace it. Ask your supplier at collection how the permit is issued, and keep both documents with you whenever you drive.
• Seat belts and child seats: Seat belts are compulsory for everyone in a moving vehicle, and children under seven need an appropriate child seat, which can be requested from the supplier.
• Mobile phones: Using a mobile phone while driving is an offence unless you use a hands-free kit. Pull off the road before you make or take a call.
• Alcohol limit: The limit is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, and breathalyser testing is in use. The safest course is not to drink at all before driving, particularly at night when the roads are poorly lit.
• Toll roads: There are no toll roads in Antigua and Barbuda, so no transponder, pass or payment is needed on the road network.
• Speed enforcement: There are no fixed speed cameras, but police use hand-held speed guns at the roadside. The maximum local limit is 40 mph, and limits are posted in miles per hour.
• Road conditions: Main roads are generally paved, but smaller roads often have potholes and speed bumps that are not always marked. Goats, cattle, dogs and pedestrians can be on the carriageway, and pavements are scarce and narrow. Avoid overtaking on blind corners.
• Night driving: Rural roads are rarely lit. Until you know a route, plan longer journeys for daylight.
• Parking: Hotels, beaches and attractions outside St John's usually have their own parking. In St John's, parking is harder to find, many streets are one-way, and a yellow line along the kerb means no parking. Lock the car and never leave valuables in view.
• Fuel: Petrol stations are found across Antigua, but it is sensible to refuel before heading to quieter parts of the island. Confirm the fuel type on your booking confirmation before you fill the tank.
• Driving on the left: If you normally drive on the right, collect the car at a quiet time and take the first few minutes slowly. The most common mistakes are at roundabouts and when turning out of a car park onto a main road, so keep to the left throughout.

Posted signs always take precedence over these general limits, and the police give 40 mph as the maximum local speed limit.

Antigua and Barbuda Car Hire Insurance

Every booking includes the supplier's standard collision damage waiver (CDW) in the basic rate. Standard CDW carries an excess, which varies by supplier and vehicle class, and the exact amount is displayed clearly before you confirm your booking. Fully comprehensive zero-excess cover is available directly from the supplier at the desk on collection. The cover is provided by the hire company itself, not a third-party insurer, so once it is added there is no excess to pay and no reimbursement claim to file.

It is worth being aware that certain situations fall outside standard CDW cover across the car hire industry. Tyres, glass, underbody damage, lost or damaged keys, and a flat battery caused by driver error, such as leaving the lights on while the vehicle is unattended, are typically excluded and may result in a separate charge. On island roads with potholes and unmarked speed bumps, tyre and underbody damage are the exclusions most worth understanding before you drive. Check your booking confirmation for the specific terms applicable to your hire, as scope can vary by supplier.

Antigua and Barbuda is one country made up of two main islands. Barbuda lies north of Antigua and is reached by ferry or by air. Before you plan to take a hire car to Barbuda, confirm with your supplier whether this is permitted under your hire terms.

When is the Best Time to Hire a Car in Antigua and Barbuda?

Peak season: December to March is the busiest period, and demand for cars rises sharply around Christmas and New Year. Antigua Sailing Week takes place in late April, with English Harbour at the centre of the racing, and brings further demand to the south of the island.

Shoulder season: April and November are steadier, with good availability outside the main event dates.

Low season: May to October is the quietest period, and it overlaps with the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Check the forecast before booking day trips in these months.

Advance booking: Book several weeks ahead for December to April and for event dates. Free cancellation means booking early carries no penalty if your plans change, and the balance is paid at the desk on collection.

Before you drive away: Photograph the vehicle thoroughly at collection and again at return, including all four sides, the wheels, the windscreen and the interior. Dated photographs give you a clear record of the condition you received, which matters on roads where small marks are easy to pick up.

How Payment Works for Car Hire in Antigua and Barbuda

Payment is made in two steps. A rental prepayment confirms your booking online, with Instant Confirmation from the supplier. You then pay the balance directly to the supplier on arrival, when you collect the car.

The price and vehicle class shown at booking are the terms you receive at the desk. Because the full rental amount is not charged at the time of booking, you keep flexibility if your plans change, and cancellation is free.

The supplier may place an excess hold on the main driver's credit card at collection, so check that the card in the driver's name has enough available limit. The amount is shown in your booking confirmation.

Car Hire Suppliers in Antigua and Barbuda

Car hire in Antigua and Barbuda is available through the following suppliers.

• Green Motion
• Surprice Mobility

Popular Car Hire Locations in Antigua and Barbuda

Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys.