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Country driving guide · 2026

Driving in Bahamas

Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Bahamas: 8 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.

8

Required

1

Recommended

6

Good to know

Tick before you go

Pre-departure checklist for Bahamas

8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.

  • Drive on the left

    Bahamas drives on the left like the UK, despite most cars being left-hand-drive US imports which makes overtaking and judging width tricky.

  • UK/EU licence valid for up to 3 months

    Visitors can drive on a valid UK or EU licence for up to three months; beyond that a Bahamian licence is required. An IDP is not mandatory but recommended as a translation backup.

  • Passport and return ticket

    Carry your passport (valid 6 months beyond stay) and proof of onward travel; UK and EU nationals do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days.

  • Rental insurance / CDW

    Take the rental company's collision damage waiver: UK motor insurance and most credit-card cover do not extend to the Bahamas, and third-party liability minimums are low.

  • Speed limits 48/72 km/h

    Urban limit is 25 mph (40 km/h) in Nassau, typically 30 mph (48 km/h) in towns and 45 mph (72 km/h) on open road; there are no motorways.

  • BAC limit 0.08 g/100ml

    Blood alcohol limit is 0.08% (0.8 g/L), the same as England; penalties include heavy fines and imprisonment.

  • Seatbelts and no handheld phones

    Front seatbelts are mandatory and handheld mobile phone use while driving is prohibited; children under 5 must be in an appropriate car seat.

  • Cash declaration over $10,000

    Amounts of BSD/USD 10,000 or equivalent must be declared to Bahamas Customs on arrival and departure.

Driving rules

Drive on the left

Required

Bahamas drives on the left like the UK, despite most cars being left-hand-drive US imports which makes overtaking and judging width tricky.

Speed limits 48/72 km/h

Required

Urban limit is 25 mph (40 km/h) in Nassau, typically 30 mph (48 km/h) in towns and 45 mph (72 km/h) on open road; there are no motorways.

BAC limit 0.08 g/100ml

Required

Blood alcohol limit is 0.08% (0.8 g/L), the same as England; penalties include heavy fines and imprisonment.

Seatbelts and no handheld phones

Required

Front seatbelts are mandatory and handheld mobile phone use while driving is prohibited; children under 5 must be in an appropriate car seat.

Emergency number 911 or 919

Good to know

Dial 911 (or 919) for police, ambulance and fire; response times on Out Islands can be slow.

Documents

UK/EU licence valid for up to 3 months

Required

Visitors can drive on a valid UK or EU licence for up to three months; beyond that a Bahamian licence is required. An IDP is not mandatory but recommended as a translation backup.

Passport and return ticket

Required

Carry your passport (valid 6 months beyond stay) and proof of onward travel; UK and EU nationals do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days.

Rental insurance / CDW

Required

Take the rental company's collision damage waiver: UK motor insurance and most credit-card cover do not extend to the Bahamas, and third-party liability minimums are low.

Tolls

No toll roads or vignettes

Good to know

There are no motorways, toll roads or vignette stickers anywhere in the Bahamas: all roads are free to use.

Environment

Island-hopping needs ferries or flights

Recommended

Roads only exist within individual islands; to move between New Providence, Grand Bahama, the Abacos, Exumas etc you need a Bahamas Ferries service or a domestic flight, not a car.

Hurricane season Jun-Nov

Good to know

Atlantic hurricane season runs June to November with peak risk August-October; flooding and debris can close roads on short notice.

Money

Currency BSD pegged 1:1 to USD

Good to know

Bahamian dollar (BSD) is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and USD is accepted everywhere interchangeably; cards are widely accepted in Nassau and Freeport, cash needed on Out Islands.

Fuel approx EUR 1.30-1.50 per litre

Good to know

Petrol runs about BSD 5.50-6.50 per US gallon, roughly EUR 1.30-1.50 per litre; most stations are attendant-service and a small tip ($1-2) is customary.

Cash declaration over $10,000

Required

Amounts of BSD/USD 10,000 or equivalent must be declared to Bahamas Customs on arrival and departure.

Required equipment

No mandatory in-car equipment

Good to know

There is no legal requirement to carry a hi-vis vest, warning triangle, first aid kit or spare bulbs: rentals are not equipped with them.

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Popular destinations in Bahamas

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Don't get caught out

Watch out for these

Drive on the left

Required

Bahamas drives on the left like the UK, despite most cars being left-hand-drive US imports which makes overtaking and judging width tricky.

Speed limits 48/72 km/h

Required

Urban limit is 25 mph (40 km/h) in Nassau, typically 30 mph (48 km/h) in towns and 45 mph (72 km/h) on open road; there are no motorways.

BAC limit 0.08 g/100ml

Required

Blood alcohol limit is 0.08% (0.8 g/L), the same as England; penalties include heavy fines and imprisonment.

Seatbelts and no handheld phones

Required

Front seatbelts are mandatory and handheld mobile phone use while driving is prohibited; children under 5 must be in an appropriate car seat.