Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 6 legal requirements + 11 other things worth knowing.
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Tick before you go
6 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Local temporary driving permit required
Visitors must purchase a temporary SVG driving permit (around XCD 100 / approx EUR 35) from the licensing authority or police stations in Kingstown, or from many car rental agencies. Your home licence alone is not valid to drive.
Passport for permit issue
Your passport must be presented when the temporary local driving permit is issued, and carried with the permit while driving.
Rental insurance / CDW
Third-party insurance is compulsory and included with rentals; CDW is strongly advised as roads are narrow and accident excess is high. Green Card schemes do not apply.
Drive on the LEFT
SVG drives on the left-hand side of the road, same as the UK. Most rental cars are right-hand drive.
Speed limits
Urban 30 km/h (about 20 mph), rural / open road 60-80 km/h (40-50 mph). There are no motorways.
Drink-drive limit
BAC limit is 0.08 g/100ml (0.8 g/L), the same as the rest of the UK outside Scotland. Enforcement is strict around Kingstown.
Visitors must purchase a temporary SVG driving permit (around XCD 100 / approx EUR 35) from the licensing authority or police stations in Kingstown, or from many car rental agencies. Your home licence alone is not valid to drive.
Carry your UK/EU photocard licence plus a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; both are usually required to be shown when buying the local permit.
Your passport must be presented when the temporary local driving permit is issued, and carried with the permit while driving.
Third-party insurance is compulsory and included with rentals; CDW is strongly advised as roads are narrow and accident excess is high. Green Card schemes do not apply.
Dial 999 or 911 for police, ambulance and fire. Response times can be slow outside Kingstown.
SVG drives on the left-hand side of the road, same as the UK. Most rental cars are right-hand drive.
Urban 30 km/h (about 20 mph), rural / open road 60-80 km/h (40-50 mph). There are no motorways.
BAC limit is 0.08 g/100ml (0.8 g/L), the same as the rest of the UK outside Scotland. Enforcement is strict around Kingstown.
Roads are narrow with steep gradients, blind bends, pedestrians and goats; expect minibuses ('dollar vans') to overtake aggressively and use horns. Drive slowly and defensively.
Seatbelts compulsory front and rear; using a handheld mobile phone while driving is prohibited.
There are no toll roads, motorway stickers or e-vignettes anywhere in SVG.
SVG operates no LEZ or emissions sticker scheme.
June to November brings tropical storms; mountain roads in the interior can flood or have landslides, and ferry services to the Grenadines (Bequia, Mustique, Union Island) may be cancelled.
Cars cannot be taken between most Grenadine islands easily; rent separately on each island or use taxis on Bequia, Union Island etc.
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD), pegged at 2.70 XCD = 1 USD (roughly 2.90 XCD per EUR). USD is widely accepted; carry small XCD notes for fuel and parking.
Petrol around XCD 14-16 per imperial gallon, roughly EUR 1.20-1.30 per litre. Many rural stations are cash-only; cards work in Kingstown.
Amounts of XCD 10,000 or foreign equivalent (about EUR 3,400) and over must be declared at customs on arrival or departure.
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Don't get caught out
SVG drives on the left-hand side of the road, same as the UK. Most rental cars are right-hand drive.
Urban 30 km/h (about 20 mph), rural / open road 60-80 km/h (40-50 mph). There are no motorways.
BAC limit is 0.08 g/100ml (0.8 g/L), the same as the rest of the UK outside Scotland. Enforcement is strict around Kingstown.