Can an American Drive in Anguilla? — You Need a Local Temporary Permit

Anguilla drives on the left, the reverse of the United States, so the answer to the question most people type in is simple: keep to the left-hand side, and sit on the right-hand side of the car if it is a standard local model. The U.S. State Department confirms left-hand driving on its Anguilla page, last updated July 30, 2026. The second answer matters more for your wallet: an American also needs a temporary local driving permit, because the international permit is not recognised.

The permit you buy on arrival

Your US licence is the key to the permit, not the permit itself. Visitors buy a temporary Anguillian driving licence from car-hire companies on sight of the home licence. The country record gives the price as US$25 and the validity as three months, and sets the minimum driving age at 18. Global Affairs Canada states that the international driving permit is not recognised in Anguilla, so there is no point buying one for this trip. Carry both documents together whenever you drive. The U.S. State Department page does not describe the permit, so rely on the hire firm for the exact procedure, and ask what it charges before you agree.

Which side of the car you sit on

Some hire cars are left-hand drive, the same layout as your car at home. In a country that drives on the left that puts you at the kerb side of the road. Your view past slower vehicles is reduced, so overtaking and pulling out of side roads need extra care. If the hire company offers a choice, ask for a right-hand-drive car; if not, drive deliberately for the first hour and say “left” aloud at each turn.

What the State Department says about the roads

The U.S. State Department tells travellers to be careful when driving, riding in a vehicle or crossing roads on foot. It describes the major roads as being in average to poor condition. Drivers often stop in the middle of the roadway without warning, so it recommends always keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and watching for signs of sudden braking. Vehicles may lack working safety and signalling devices. An American used to predictable stopping behaviour should add a larger gap than usual, especially where a road is narrow and the surface is rough.

Taxis and minibuses

The State Department says public transport on Anguilla consists of minibuses and taxis. GOV.UK describes the position in similar terms, and a hire car is still the practical choice if you want to reach several beaches in one day. On any evening that includes a drink, a taxi is the lower-risk way back.

What is not in the sources

Nothing in the official advice used for this page gives a speed-limit table for Anguilla, a blood-alcohol limit or a schedule of fines. A common-sense approach works: drive to the signs you can see and to the traffic around you, and treat any alcohol before driving as a risk, since the limit is unpublished. For comparison, the United States uses 0.08, and speed limits there vary by state, typically 25-35 mph in towns and 55 on rural roads.

First hour with the hire car

Show your US licence at the desk, buy the permit and check the date printed on it. Read the damage clauses, photograph every panel and the tyres, and set your route before pulling out. Keep your phone mounted and avoid handling it while moving. Allow extra time for the first journey because of the unfamiliar side of the road.

Emergency number

The number is 911 for police, ambulance and fire, the same as at home. The Driving Permit Checker covers other islands on your itinerary, and the Anguilla driving guide has more.

Sources

• U.S. Department of State, Country Information, Anguilla, last updated July 30, 2026 (left-hand driving; road conditions; sudden stopping; public transport): cadataapi.state.gov
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Anguilla safety and security (US$25 local licence from hire companies, valid 3 months; traffic on the left; some cars left-hand drive): gov.uk
• Global Affairs Canada, Anguilla travel advice (IDP not recognised; temporary permit bought with a home licence; driving age 18; dial 911): travel.gc.ca