Barbados has a fairly good-quality and extensive road network, although away from the main roads, the roads are often full of potholes and bumps. Nevertheless, within the Caribbean, the local road network is among the better ones.

If you wish to explore the island’s forested and hilly interior or the east and north coasts, a car is by far the best option.

Barbados drives on the left.

How and when to book a car in Barbados

There are many large multinational car hire companies operating in Barbados, as well as smaller Pan-Caribbean ones. Hiring a car here works just like in any other civilised country.

However, there is one specific issue: a shortage of cars.Book your car at least 2–3 months in advance, particularly between December and April.

Otherwise, you run the risk that none of the car hire companies will actually have any availability, and you’ll end up without a car at all, which will mean having to completely overhaul your plans.

View car hire prices in Barbados

We’ve had particularly good experiences with Hertz, Drive-A-Matic and Avis, all of which you can find on the comparison site Booking.com.

Car hire prices in Barbados

Barbados is one of the more expensive destinations in the Caribbean. Prices vary greatly depending on the season.

• Weekly hire in peak season (December to March): from490 USD forthe smallest car
• Weekly hire in the shoulder season (April to June): from270 USD forthe smallest car
• Weekly hire in the off-season (July to November): from240 USD forthe smallest car
• Current car hire prices in Barbados

Prices for larger SUVs are up to three times higher than for the smallest cars.

As is the case elsewhere in the world, the longer you hire a car in Barbados, the lower the daily rate you’ll get.

It’s also worth booking your car at least 2–4 months in advance. Conversely, if you book more than 7 months in advance, fewer offers will be displayed, so it’s worth waiting.

International and local driving licences 10 bbd

To hire a car in Barbados, you will need a national driving licence and, if you are from a non-English-speaking country, an international driving permit, which you must carry with you at all times.

In addition, you will need to pay a fee 10 bbd / 5 usd for a temporary local driving licence, which will be issued to you on a handwritten slip of paper directly by the car hire company on site. There is no need to apply in advance.

No photograph is required to obtain the local driving licence.

Petrol prices and petrol stations

Petrol in Barbados is the most expensive in the whole of the Caribbean and Latin America in general.

US units of measurement are used here, so all prices are quotedper gallon, not per litre. As a rule, 1 gallon = 3.78 litres.

Currently (2024),1 gallonof regular petrol (known locally as ‘Gasoline’) costs approximately 15,45 bbd.

How do petrol stations work in Barbados?

There is a sufficient number of petrol stations on the island of Barbados, and you’ll find one in every larger town.

All petrol stations here are manned; there are no self-service stations as yet.

Simply drive up to the pump, open your fuel cap and tell the attendant how much you want to fill up with. You can specify this in litres (or gallons), up to a maximum amount, or simply say “full tank, please”. You can always pay in US or Barbadian dollars and, in the vast majority of cases, by card as well. You pay the attendant who has filled up your car directly, so you don’t even need to get out of the car.

Most petrol stations are equipped much like anywhere else: with a small shop selling snacks and car accessories, or perhaps a café.

Road quality and signage

Barbados has a very dense network of roads and tarmac streets, so you can get absolutely anywhere in a standard small car.

A four-lane motorway also runs north-south, serving as a bypass around Bridgetown and a link to the airport. The motorway is designated ‘ABC’ and is marked on maps as extending all the way to the north of Barbados, although it gradually becomes just a main road.

The quality of the main roads is generally good, whilst secondary roads are full of potholes, missing verges and unmarked bumps.

If you leave the main road, be sure to slow down and expect uneven surfaces and narrow sections absolutely anywhere.

Road signs are European-style. Directional signage is not of a very high standard and is not always present at every junction.

Traffic and road regulations

In Barbados, they drive on the left.

One advantage of driving in Barbados is the great consideration shown by local drivers and the fact that they can spot a foreigner in a car at a glance. This is because all hire cars have distinctive number plates: a blue ‘H’ with numbers on a white background.

Local drivers are considerate. You need not worry about reckless driving or aggressive overtaking, provided you drive more cautiously than the locals. When overtaking, drivers will usually honk their horns at you, but this is normal here: they’re simply letting you know they’ve decided to overtake, and it’s polite to slow down or move closer to the kerb.

Drivers on the main road also often courteously give way to cars pulling out from side streets or car parks.

Speed limits

Speeds are measuredin kilometres per hourand the maximum permitted limits are as follows:

• In built-up areas – 40 km/h (approx. 25 mph)
• Outside built-up areas – 60 km/h (approx. 37 mph)
• On the ABC motorway – 80 km/h (approx. 50 mph)

Right of way and roundabouts

Although traffic drives on the left here, the ‘right-hand priority’ rule applies at junctions not controlled by traffic lights or road signs.

Roundabouts are common; vehicles already on the roundabout always have right of way. It is very common for roundabouts to have several lanes; always follow the road signs strictly. Do not use your indicators when exiting a roundabout.

Alcohol, seat belts and using a mobile phone

The use of seatbelts is compulsory and using a mobile phone whilst driving is strictly prohibited. Earphones are also not permitted. The police strictly enforce seatbelt and mobile phone offences, with fines of up to 1 000 bbd.

Although there is no legal blood alcohol limit in Barbados, causing an accident whilst under the influence is considered a significantly aggravating circumstance.

Booking a car in Barbados

Parking

Parking in Barbados is one of the biggest headaches of local traffic. Particularly in the densely populated areas along the west and south coasts, finding a parking space near the beach is a real challenge.

There are plenty of shopping centres and supermarkets where you can park for free and pop out for an hour or so, but leaving your car there all day could result in it being towed away.

You’ll find virtually no large public car parks here, and even if you do, they’re usually full by around 9.00 am. Street parking is free wherever it isn’t prohibited by a sign, but the streets are mostly narrow, so parking isn’t possible everywhere.

You’ll find the most parking spaces at the beaches in Folkestone Marine Park, Carlisle Bay or Oistins.