Driving In St Lucia: Local Rules and Tips To Know Before You Go
Love the idea of exploring Saint Lucia by car? Us too! Researching car rentals, we found pretty mixed advice about driving in St Lucia.
Although St Lucia, at 27 miles long, is not a big island, there’s a lot to explore in this beautiful Caribbean destination. Several forums said roads were tricky and suggested using taxis and local tour guides.
However, after driving in Costa Rica, and mountainous, coastal Lefkada, Greece, we decided to jump in. Here’s our experience with St Lucia car rentals to help you make the best decisions for you.
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Driving in St Lucia – Questions You May Have
We certainly had a lot of questions before we booked our Car Hire in St Lucia.
- Is it safe to Drive in St Lucia?
- What are the roads like?
- Who should I hire a car from?
- Can I pick up and drop off the rental in different locations?
- How expensive is it?
- What side of the road do they drive on in St Lucia?
- Do I hire a car or a jeep?
- Should I even bother renting a car – Is using taxis a better option?
- Do I need a driving permit and how do I get one if so?
We spoke to both hotels we had booked and car rental companies to get some general information. Weighing everything up and based on what we wanted to do on the island, we decided to hire a jeep.
Get our Ultimate St Lucia Road Trip Itinerary here for your own 10 Day Adventure.
1. Getting Around St Lucia
What are St Lucia Roads Really Like?
Most of the main roads from Vieux Fort (International Airport location) up to Castries and the north are paved. They are wide enough for cars to easily pass by each other.
In some places, there are road works (where isn’t this happening!!) but we didn’t come across too many.
Secondary roads are narrower and winding. Some have potholes, especially after the rainy season which typically falls from June to November but they are generally paved.
In the Soufriere region, we did come across some roads that did need a 4×4 as they were uneven and rough. A car with a lower clearance would not do well on these tracks.
There are gullies on either side of many roads. Don’t be alarmed by the thought of this. Just be aware of them, especially where the road is narrow if you have to pull into the side.
In some of the smaller villages, like Anse La Raye, the roads within the village are narrower and often single track. They’re great to explore but park up in a wider area and explore these places on foot.
North of Castries, you will find a dual carriageway road leading up to Rodney Bay.
How long does it take to get between places?
When driving between places, allow more travel time than you likely would where you live. St Lucia is a very mountainous island. You will encounter steep inclines, sharp turns, and blind corners so you simply can’t race ahead.
The maximum speed limit anyway is 40mph and with the right vehicle, none of this is a problem.
To give you an idea of time, our journey of 28km/17 miles from Marigot Bay to Soufriere took around an hour. On a secondary road, a 10km/6 mile trip can take 20 minutes, longer if you decide to stop and take photos which of course we did.
The scenery is super so why rush anyway 🙂
Here’s a St Lucia Google Maps Link of the roads we traveled on.
2. Choosing your Car Hire in St Lucia
Which Rental Company?
Check here to see details of several companies offering Car Hire in St Lucia. Some larger hotels have dedicated tour desks that provide car rental services on-site.
Check rates with your hotel and compare car rentals directly using our above link.
Specifically, our hotel Samfi Gardens Soufriere recommended two companies: Drive-a-Matic and Cool Breeze Car Rental.
We chose Drive-a-Matic as they matched all our requirements. They gave us lots of brilliant practical advice before booking on what to expect when driving in St Lucia. They also guided us on which vehicle would best suit our itinerary.
We can thoroughly recommend them for these additional reasons.
- Competitively priced and no pre-payment required. (See costs heading)
- Offer drop-off and pick-up at different locations for no extra charge.
- Pre-registration was available online before the rental started so pick-up was quick.
- Driver’s Permit, which is a legal requirement, was arranged by them so no need to do this before.
- On pick up, detailed photos of the car were shared before we drove off with any existing scratches identified and emailed.
- Free St Lucia road map on request.
- Clear explanation of vehicle features and full tank of fuel/gas.
- Friendly and courteous staff.
- 24-hour emergency contact number.
- And probably most importantly, our Jimny Jeep which they recommended was in excellent condition.
🎒 TPOP Tip:
Don’t forget to bring your driver’s license with you! Even with the permit, you won’t be able to rent your vehicle without showing it.
Car or Jeep Rental in St Lucia?
If you plan to explore both the north and south of the island and need flexibility to venture on secondary roads, rent a 4×4. The Jimny Jeep we chose was perfect for two people and our itinerary.
If you are staying in the north and just want a day’s rental, a compact car may be fine. Ask your rental company/hotel for the best vehicle to match your activities/ itinerary.
3. Which Side of The Road To Drive On In St Lucia?
You will drive on the left-hand side of the road in St. Lucia, which can be an adjustment if you’re used to right-side driving.
For us Brits, that’s an advantage. But if you are a right-hand side of the road driver, it may take a bit more time to get used to the change. You’re on holiday after all, so there is no need to rush. The traffic is particularly light in the south so just go slow.
When you approach a roundabout, give way to vehicles coming from the right.
🎒 TPOP Tip:
Hiring an automatic vehicle (most are) and one with GPS will make it easier for you to focus on driving. More on GPS next.
4. How Helpful Are Road Signs and Are Google Maps Accurate?
If you’re looking for road signs to help you navigate the island be warned, they’re few and far between. Don’t rely on them.
Most of them in the south show the same image and have the same wording… hairpin bend ahead!
Streets and highways are named but there aren’t any main road numbers to follow. When we asked Google Maps in advance for our route from Marigot Bay to Soufriere ( a journey of 38km), it gave 4 instructions. Three of these told us to turn right!
But don’t worry, even though there are limited directions Google Maps works well as a navigation tool.
If you don’t have data included with your network provider or included in your vehicle rental, download an offline map. Do this before you set off when you have WiFi. We used this successfully for every journey on St Lucia.
🎒 TPOP Tip:
How to Download an offline map. Although accurate, GPS signals aren’t always reliable so download the map before you travel.
If you do get lost, there really is only one main road around the island to follow.
Stop at a cafe or roadside snack hut en route and ask a local for directions. St Lucians are friendly people who will be happy to help you.
5. How Expensive Is Car or Jeep Hire in St Lucia?
Like anywhere in the world, car rental rates vary depending on when you visit. St Lucia is no exception with high and low season prices.
A general online search may show a low rental rate. However, be aware that there are taxes to add to that. Further charges to consider include insurance, local permits, additional drivers, GPS, child car seats.
Breakdown of costs for 3-Day Jimny Jeep Rental
We travelled in February which is classed as high season paying a total of $353 / £271 for the 3 days.
- Rental $225 ($75 per day)
- Extra insurance protection (EP) $45 ($15 per day)
- Driver’s Permit $22 ( Valid for 2 months)
- Tax $ 33
- Fuel $28 ( used half tank 150km)
- Additional Drivers $3 per day
If you don’t take EP insurance, you will have a high pre-authorization fee of around $1000 placed on your credit card. This acts as a deposit to cover potential damages but with the EP, the charge drops to $250.
Our deposit was released within 24 hours after the vehicle was returned and checked.
Note that EP does not include cover for any damage to tyres, windscreens or undercarriage of the vehicle.
To cover this you will need to take out their SDW (Super Damage Waiver) or purchase your own Excess Car Hire Insurance before you rent.
For UK drivers, we recommend Reduce my Excess. Our additional cover cost was £11 for 3 days. If you’re coming to Saint Lucia from the USA, check what coverage your credit card offers by calling them directly before you leave home.
All vehicles use petrol/gasoline as fuel. Distance wise we covered 150km and used half a tank during our three day rental. Always return a rental car with a full tank of gas/petrol.
🎒 TPOP Tip
Check your dashboard fuel gauge is full before returning your vehicle. Additional charges will apply otherwise.
6. Is Car Rental Expensive vs Using Taxis?
NO! If you were to compare what you would spend in taxis getting around St Lucia, with renting a car, then rental is definitely cheaper.
Transfers and taxi fares to the places we visited in Soufriere would have cost us around $700 / £550. More than double what we actually paid in car hire costs.
Here are the taxi rates quoted in Soufriere to get to the main tourist attractions.
7. What Is Traffic Like and How Do Locals Drive?
From our route map, you’ll see we drove in both the north and south. Traffic wise, Castries was busier.
If you drive here on a Saturday, it’s their busy market day so some roads are closed off.
From Marigot Bay to the south, traffic was very light and at times it seemed like there were only a few cars on the roads.
From Castries, north to Pigeon island, it was much busier but parts leading out the town were dual carriageway.
Although we didn’t drive from the airport, (we picked our car up in Marigot Bay) the suggested route by local taxi drivers was to take the east coast road through Dennary.
Local Drivers on Saint Lucia Roads
Local drivers can appear impatient, driving close behind you and overtaking in places that may seem risky. But this is just how they drive!
Unlike us, they know the roads so don’t be alarmed. Drivers also honk their horn as a sign that they are going to pass you. Thanks!
Number plates in St Lucia will help you identify the driver. P – Private vehicle, H- Hire car, TX – Taxi.
Pedestrians and animals sometimes appear on the road unexpectedly. We came across several goats, chickens and cows.
8. What Laws Do I Need to Follow When Driving in St Lucia?
- Drive on the LEFT.
- Seat belts must be worn by all passengers.
- Do not use a mobile phone unless hands-free.
- The law in St Lucia only allows 80 mg per 100 mg of blood alcohol. Our advice is to avoid alcohol completely if you have to drive.
🎒 TPOP Tip:
Be aware of St Lucia Speed Limits: City areas 10-15mph,
In rural areas, 30mph. Highways at 40mph.
FAQs
Here are our answers to some more commonly asked questions about driving in St Lucia.
St Lucia driving is on the left-hand side of the road. Most of the roads are fairly small ie. don’t expect major highways.
The minimum age for visitors renting a car in St Lucia is 25 years old.
You need to display your driving license when hiring your vehicle and have a minimum of 5 years of experience.
Drivers over 65 years of age require a medical certificate declaring them fit to drive.
Rental cars are identifiable by their number plates all starting with the letter H so are easy to spot. In our experience, it’s fine to park up and leave the car whilst you go for a hike, swim or shop.
Park in a secure spot with other people around. Our advice is don’t leave any in your car. Although the crime rate in St Lucia is quite low, petty crime does exist.
An opportunist may target such vehicles in the hope the relaxed tourist has left valuables in their vehicles. Inexpensive items can be left at your own risk. Hide them under the seats. We left beach towels here and it was fine.
Parking is free throughout the island of Saint Lucia except in Castries where it is chargeable. Payment in cash is the expected norm so have some dollars to hand.
Would We Drive in St Lucia Again?
Yes, without question. In fact, we already did as when we arrived in Castries. After a day or two of chilling, we booked a further one day rental with Drive-A-Matic and explored St Lucia’s northern beaches.
Yes, it’s a little challenging if you’re not used to narrow, winding, and hilly roads but it’s certainly doable.
Not only is it a lot cheaper than booking taxis, but it gives you flexibility and makes getting around St Lucia so much easier. We were able to pop out to the supermarket and stop off on the route at cafes, viewpoints, and villages when we wanted.
We hope our guide helps you decide if hiring a car is right for your trip to St. Lucia, and our practical and honest tips smooth the way to discover the wonderful island of St Lucia.
