Can a Brit Drive in Cuba? — Yes, but You Switch to the Right at a 0.0 Limit

A classic-car road trip along the Malecón is a romantic idea, but for a British driver Cuba asks for two real adjustments before the fun starts — and neither is the licence itself.

Can a British licence holder drive in Cuba?

Yes. Your UK licence is accepted for tourist visits, and you should pair it with an International Driving Permit. Rental agencies — the usual way visitors drive in Cuba — tend to want to see one, and it smooths things at checkpoints. The IDP is issued in the UK before you travel, not on arrival, so arrange it in advance and carry it with your licence and passport. The Driving Permit Checker shows exactly what to bring.

The first adjustment: switching to the right

The UK drives on the left; Cuba drives on the right. This is the change most likely to catch you out, and the danger window is your first day — pulling out of a fuel stop, taking a roundabout that now flows the other way, or glancing the wrong direction at a junction. Sit a moment before you set off, and stay deliberate at every turn until right-hand driving stops feeling backwards.

The second: a zero alcohol limit

Cuba’s blood-alcohol limit is effectively 0.0 — there is no “one beer” margin. For a foreign driver, being involved in a serious crash can carry heavy consequences regardless of fault, which makes a clean record behind the wheel matter even more. If you are driving, don’t drink at all.

Roads, speeds and fuel

Limits run 50 km/h in towns, 60 km/h on rural roads and up to 100 km/h on the main autopista. Beyond the highways, expect potholes, unlit horse carts, cyclists and the occasional missing sign, so daytime driving is far safer. Fuel can be scarce and queues long — fill up whenever you can, at roughly $1.10 a litre. The emergency number is 911.

Read the full rules on our Cuba driving guide before you set off, and the Speeding Fine Calculator helps you weigh the cost of a penalty.