Road guide

Driving in Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda are separate islands, not one continuous road network. Calculate only the road journey on the island where the vehicle will be used, then arrange the sea or air connection and the next vehicle independently.

Plan a route in Antigua and Barbuda

Confirm the temporary local driving permit

Antigua and Barbuda requires a visitor to obtain temporary local driving authority. Official guidance says a rental company can usually arrange it after the driver presents a valid home-country licence; the Transport Board and local police stations are also identified as issuing points.

Take the original home-country licence to the issuing point and ask which temporary document and vehicle category apply. The hire agreement should then identify the drivers, insured use, excess and roadside contact before the keys are released; acceptance of one issuing country's licence says nothing about another country's document or a digital copy.

Sources: [1][4]

Plan on this site

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Keep left and allow for narrow, poorly lit roads

Traffic keeps left. The tourism authority highlights narrow roads and limited sidewalks, while current travel advice separately identifies potholes, unmarked speed bumps, blind corners, pedestrians and weak night lighting.

Follow signs, police directions and temporary controls at the road. After a collision in Antigua and Barbuda, contact the police and leave the vehicle in place until an officer instructs otherwise. A calculated line is not proof that a damaged or flooded road is open.

Sources: [1][4]

Separate Antigua and Barbuda at the terminal

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda lists ferry and air services for travel to Barbuda. Official visitor information says Barbuda has no public transport, so onward ground transport must be arranged rather than assumed.

For travel between Antigua and Barbuda, drive only as far as the relevant airport or ferry check-in. Verify the operator's current schedule, weather status and vehicle policy, then arrange the destination-island rental or transfer when the same vehicle cannot travel.

Sources: [2][1]

Separate the permit from vehicle permission

A temporary local permit does not decide which driver, island, surface or vehicle the rental supplier insures. Have the contract list each driver and confirm the excess, assistance, road restrictions and any ferry carriage before departure; a navigable road cannot extend rental cover.

Sources: [1][4]

Protect the island transfer from the road estimate

End the Antigua road task at the correct terminal and arrange the Barbuda transport and destination-side vehicle independently. The driving estimate neither reserves the sea or air leg nor proves that a rental vehicle may accompany the passenger.

Sources: [2][1]

Let weather warnings set the departure window

Check Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services before an exposed leg. Stop for flooding, a barrier or an official instruction; in an emergency identify the island, road, direction and nearest landmark rather than giving only the destination name.

Sources: [3][5][4]

Before driving in Antigua and Barbuda

  • Carry the confirmed home licence, temporary local permit and rental documents, and keep left.
  • Calculate an Antigua or Barbuda road journey separately; do not turn the water crossing into a road leg.
  • Monitor official weather information and follow evacuation or closure instructions during hurricane season and after earthquakes.
  • Call 999 or 911 for ambulance, fire or police assistance.

Sources: [3][4][5]

Official information

Official sources

  1. Getting Around Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority · checked 11 September 2026
  2. How to get to Barbuda Government of Antigua and Barbuda · checked 11 September 2026
  3. Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services Government of Antigua and Barbuda · checked 11 September 2026
  4. Antigua and Barbuda safety and security UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office · checked 11 September 2026
  5. Getting help in Antigua and Barbuda UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office · checked 11 September 2026