Can a British Driver Drive in the Northern Mariana Islands? — Right-Hand Switch

The Northern Mariana Islands — Saipan, Tinian and Rota — are a US Commonwealth in the western Pacific, and a hire car is the natural way to explore Saipan beyond the resort strip. For a British visitor the legal side is simple; the physical side of the road is the one real adjustment.

The licence verdict — a foreign licence is accepted

Because the islands are a US Commonwealth, they follow the mainland approach: a valid UK licence is accepted for short visits, with no special local permit needed in the way some Caribbean islands require. An International Driving Permit is recommended as a backup, mainly so there is a familiar translation if a rental desk asks, but your UK licence is the basis of your entitlement. Carry your licence and passport together.

The side switch is the thing to plan for

Here is the catch British drivers must respect: the Northern Mariana Islands drive on the right, the US way — the opposite of the UK. This is a full side switch, and the danger window is your first day, particularly pulling out of car parks and taking junctions where your reflex glance goes the wrong way. Saipan’s roads are not fast, which actually helps: take your first hour gently, be deliberate at every turn, and the new side settles in quickly.

What else to know

Driving here is low-speed and local — mainly around Saipan, with no motorways and short distances. Because there is no fast or complex network, detailed speed-limit and fine figures are not well documented, so don’t trust precise numbers found online; drive to the posted signs and the conditions. Watch for sudden tropical rain and quiet roads where pedestrians and parked cars appear without warning.

Before collecting the car, confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker and read the local detail on our Northern Mariana Islands driving guide. The emergency number is 112.