Antigua and Barbuda is an archipelagic country in the eastern Caribbean, consists mainly of two islands — Antigua and Barbuda — alongside several smaller islands. The country was once an associated state of the United Kingdom before gaining independence in 1981. It is known for its tropical climate, coral reefs, white-sand beaches, sailing culture and tourism-based economy, with Antigua being the larger, more developed island, and Barbuda being the more quieter and sparsely populated island. Its capital, Saint John's, is located on the island of Antigua, and it is the country’s largest city and main commercial, cultural and political centre. Saint John's has an important deep-water harbour used by cruise ships and cargo vessels, along with colourful markets, colonial-style buildings, waterfront shopping, and notable landmarks such as St. John's Cathedral, Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay.
Tropical storms, hurricanes and associated risks like storm surges and flooding.
For traffic/driving offences;
Antigua and Barbuda are quite calm with its way of life, with a relaxed attitude amongst the police to minor traffic violations. If you are stopped, remain polite; you would likely to simply receive a warning. If you have been charged, you’ll be given a penalty notice with instructions on how and where to pay the fine incurred.
For other offences;
The official language of Antigua and Barbuda is English, but Antiguan and Barbudan Creole, and Spanish are also spoken.
Vehicles drive on the left on both islands. The minimum driving age is 18, but the minimum renting age is typically 21, with drivers under 25 may be restricted from certain car categories, may have to pay extra daily fees, or can't be able to rent at all at some agencies. There are several rental places in Antigua, frequent in more populated areas like Saint John's, Jolly Harbour, Potters Village and near the VC Bird International Airport. However, Barbuda lacks one due to being less developed in terms of roads and transport infrastructure. Long Island also lacks rentals in the area.
While an International Driving Permit (IDP) isn't required unless a rental company requests one, UK drivers must have a temporary local driving licence/permit, along with their valid UK licence, to drive legally in Antigua and Barbuda. A local driving permit can be obtained at the local Transport Board or a police station for the price of EC$50 (~£14).
Main roads in Antigua are generally paved and well-maintained, but secondary and rural routes suffer from deep potholes, unmapped speed bumps and recurring utility excavation issues, while Barbuda's roads are mainly unpaved dirt or sand tracks. Drivers will need to take caution on the road due to narrow layouts, blind corners and wandering livestock and pedestrians, especially at night since some roads are poorly lit. A 4×4/jeep is usually recommended to explore the beaches and remote areas of the islands, but check your rental company if the car you're renting can be taken to Barbuda or Long Island.
Unleaded petrol, standard diesel and ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD) are available for rentals in Antigua and Barbuda. Stations are generally full-service, but most are cash only or have frequently offline cash machines. Make sure you carry enough cash with you for fuel — Eastern Caribbean dollars or US dollars.
There are plenty of stations on Antigua — St John's and the main populated areas, but there is only one known station in Barbuda; G&B Service Station, located in south of Codrington, and fuel availability of that station isn't something to leave until your tank's nearly empty. If you're taking a vehicle to remote parts of Antigua or to Barbuda, fill the tank — in Antigua — beforehand, and regard the Codrington station as a backup rather than planning your trip in Barbuda around it. If your rental agreement says "full tank on return", take a photo of the fuel gauge when you collect the car, and again when you return it. This should avoid any arguments over the amount of fuel supplied/returned.
The legal limit is 0.08%.
Mandatory for all drivers and passengers.
Children under 4 years must use a forward-facing car seat, while infants up to 1 year old must be secured in a rear-facing seat, and children aged 4 to 12 must use booster seats.
While not a legal requirement, the following are strongly recommended due to the road conditions;
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