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Barbados / Car Rental

Hiring a car is an excellent addition to a visit to the Caribbean, but particularly so in Barbados because there is plenty to do and because the island is surprisingly good to explore. There are some delightful beaches cut into the cliffs of the south east, which make for an excellent day out and picnic, and the Atlantic coast is wonderfully dramatic. Getting lost in the cane fields is almost par for the course, so don’t worry when you do. Just stop and ask and someone is bound to help. Finally, there are all the restaurants to visit in the evening. From an island perspective, cars are a vital aspect of local life. The majority of Bajans would prefer to drive a few hundred yards to work than to walk and so there is actually a serious rush hour each morning and evening. There is a staggering 1,719 km of paved road network on the island.

A local driving permit is required to drive in Barbados. This costs Bds$10/US$5 and can be obtained from the car hire company when you hire the car, or from the Barbados Licensing Authority offices in Oistins, The Pine or St Peter when you present your licence from home. If you are visiting during the winter season and know that you will want a car then it is advisable to book it well in advance otherwise, due to demand, it could prove impossible to get hold of one. You must have held a licence for at least two years to hire a car in Barbados, and be at least 21 years of age and under 75 years of age.  We have found consistently that the best car hire company on the island is Stoutes Car Rentals. Their service is island-wide although they are based in St Philip. They also have the exclusive concession at the cruise port and have a booth at the airport.

You may also want to read our article - Essential Notes on Driving in the Caribbean.

Please see below for our recommended Barbados car rental companies and full directory listings.

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Or read our other island guides

Anguilla | Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | Bermuda | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Cuba | Curacao | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada and Carriacou | Guadeloupe | Haiti | Jamaica | Martinique | Montserrat | Nevis | Puerto Rico | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Eustatius | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago | Trinidad | Turks & Caicos Islands | US Virgin Islands

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Barbados’s weather

Barbados weather chart

When to go and weather

Looking for inspiration?

  1. Ride the waves at kitesurfing mecca Silver Point
  2. Drive along the breathtakingly beautiful East Coast
  3. Go underground at Harrison's Cave
  4. Hobnob with the stars watching a polo match
  5. Step back in time at the impressive Jacobean plantation house - St Nicholas Abbey

Barbados Events

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