Sint Maarten drives on the right, at 30 km/h in built-up areas and 50 outside them. Check the alcohol rule: the ordinance sets no numeric limit, only a ban on driving when impaired.
Which Side Does St Maarten Drive On? Right, at 30 km/h
Data verified:
3 min readSint Maarten drives on the right side of the road. The minimum driving age is 18.
Personalise for Your Trip
See how Sint Maarten differs from your home country
Sint Maarten drives on the right, so visitors from the US, Canada and continental Europe have no side of the road to relearn and still overtake on the left as at home. Speed limits are 30 km/h in built-up areas and 50 km/h outside them, the ordinance sets no numeric blood-alcohol figure, and emergency lines are split: ambulance on 912, fire on 919 and police on 721-542-2222.
Your case: The ordinance bans driving once alcohol impairs you without naming a number, so US and Canadian visitors cannot lean on a 0.08 allowance. The BAC Calculator shows how few drinks matter for someone of your weight.
Emergency Numbers in Sint Maarten
Police: 721-542-2222 | Ambulance: 912 | Fire: 919
Save these numbers before you start driving. In Sint Maarten, emergency calls are free from any phone.
Speed Limits in Sint Maarten
The Sint Maarten road traffic ordinance sets 30 km/h in built-up areas and 50 km/h outside them; there are no motorways.
Important: Posted signs always override default limits. Watch for temporary restrictions in construction zones, near schools, and in residential areas.
Speeding Fines and Penalties
Speeding fines in Sint Maarten vary based on how much you exceed the posted limit. Fines increase sharply for higher violations and may include licence points or driving bans for serious offences.
Traffic Rules and Regulations
Drive on the right side of the road. Overtake on the left. At roundabouts, traffic circulates anticlockwise: give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, which approach from your left, unless signs say otherwise.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants. Children must use appropriate restraint systems based on their age and height.
Using a hand-held phone while driving is prohibited. Hands-free systems are permitted.
Use headlights in poor visibility, tunnels, and at night.
Drink-Driving Laws and Alcohol Limits
Sint Maarten’s road traffic ordinance gives no numeric blood-alcohol limit and bans driving when alcohol leaves you unable to drive properly (article 6), so treat any drinking before a drive as a risk. Penalties for drink-driving include heavy fines, licence confiscation, and potential imprisonment.
The safest approach is to not drink at all if you will be driving. Alcohol affects reaction time and judgement regardless of the legal limit.
Tyre Requirements and Regulations
Winter tyres are not a consideration in Sint Maarten’s tropical climate; tyres in good condition are what matter.
No legal minimum tread depth for Sint Maarten turned up in an official source we could check; check the tyres on a hire car before you drive off.
Driving License Requirements
Always carry your original driving licence — photocopies are not accepted.
Parking and Fuel
Parking rules vary by city. Look for designated parking areas and always check signs for time limits and payment requirements.
Most fuel stations accept major credit and debit cards. In rural areas, keep your tank above half — stations may be far apart.
Practical Driving Tips for Sint Maarten
- Download offline maps of Sint Maarten before your trip — mobile signal can be unreliable on rural roads.
- Take a break every 2 hours on long drives. Fatigue is a leading cause of road accidents.
- Use our interactive tools on this page — compare rules with your home country and calculate potential fines before you set off.
Speed Limits in Sint Maarten
| Road Type | Cars | Trucks (>3.5t) |
|---|---|---|
| Urban | Verify locally | — |
| Rural | Verify locally | — |
| Motorway | Verify locally | — |
Emergency Numbers in Sint Maarten
These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Avoid a fine in Sint Maarten
Who pays a driving fine abroad, the hire-car admin-fee trap, and how to appeal.
Read the fine guideDriving in Sint Maarten on a foreign licence
Nationality-specific licence, IDP & rules — pick where your licence is from:
Renting a Car in Sint Maarten?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
Recent changes to this page
- Tyre rules corrected: template defaults (1.6 mm tread, winter tyres not required, studded tyres prohibited) replaced with sourced rules or removed where no official source exists.
- Minimum driving age added: 18 for a car licence, from an official source (https://www.sintmaartengov.org/services/pages/Drivers-License-Theory-Driving-Exa).
- Roundabout rule corrected: the page said to enter clockwise, but traffic keeps right here, so roundabouts run anticlockwise.
- Speed limits corrected from template defaults to 30 km/h built-up and 50 km/h outside (Wegenverkeersverordening Sint Maarten); the 100 km/h motorway field was removed and the 0.05 alcohol default replaced because the ordinance gives no numeric limit.
- Emergency-number box, FAQ and checklist aligned with the verified country record.
- Opening rewritten to answer the driving-side question this page is found for, with the 50/80/100 km/h tiers and the 0.05 alcohol limit set against the 0.08 most visitors arrive with, plus a blood-alcohol bridge; title, description and quick answer aligned.
- Title and description tightened to the page's own data (title 50-60, description 140-155 characters).
- Title, description and introduction rewritten from this page's own data (no shared template wording).
Frequently Asked Questions
The Sint Maarten road traffic ordinance sets 30 km/h in built-up areas and 50 km/h outside them; there are no motorways. Always follow posted signs, which override any general figure.
In Sint Maarten, traffic drives on the right side of the road. Vehicles have the steering wheel on the left side. If you are visiting from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at intersections, roundabouts, and when overtaking.
Foreign visitors to Sint Maarten should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their valid national driving license. An IDP translates your license into multiple languages and is recognized internationally. Check with the embassy of Sint Maarten for the most current requirements.
Winter tyres are not a consideration in Sint Maarten's tropical climate; tyres in good condition are what matter.
The emergency numbers in Sint Maarten are police 721-542-2222, ambulance 912 and fire 919. These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, be prepared to state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in Sint Maarten. Hands-free systems (Bluetooth, speakerphone, or mounted devices) are permitted. Penalties for mobile phone use while driving typically include fines. For safety, always use hands-free solutions or pull over to use your phone.
When driving in Sint Maarten, you should always carry: your valid driving license (and IDP if applicable), vehicle registration document, valid insurance certificate (Green Card for European countries), and your passport or national ID. Rental car drivers should also carry the rental agreement. Police may request these documents during routine checks.
Driving in Sint Maarten is generally safe for tourists who are prepared. Before driving, familiarize yourself with local traffic rules, road signs, and driving customs. Consider downloading offline maps, carrying emergency supplies, and purchasing comprehensive insurance. Avoid driving at night in unfamiliar areas if possible.
Get Driving Law Updates
Speed limits, fines and tyre laws change frequently. Get monthly updates for the countries you drive in.
Related Articles
Are Dashcams Legal in Austria? No — EUR 10,000 Fine in 2026
Country-by-country status for 2026, which courts accept the footage, the confiscation risk at an Austrian stop, and the rule that catches hire cars.
Driving LawsEurope Speeding Fines 2026: EUR 15 to an Uncapped Day-Fine
The same 20 km/h over the limit costs EUR 15 at the cheap end and EUR 70 on a German Autobahn, and in Switzerland a share of income with no ceiling.
Driving LawsRadar Detectors Legal in Europe 2026: 5 Bans, €1,500 Fine
The 2026 table for all of Europe: hardware versus camera-warning apps, five outright bans, France's EUR 1,500 seizure and Germany's EUR 75 use-only rule.