We can’t imagine not renting a car in Anguilla. Hands down the best way to explore Anguilla is by car. There are 33 beaches in Anguilla, and there is no way you’d make it to half of them without an Anguilla rental car. There aren’t many taxis in Anguilla, and renting a car is a lot cheaper than you think.

Our 5-day rental was about the same price as if we would have taken a single taxi from the Anguilla ferry terminal. When renting a car, there are a few things you should know in advance.

Anguilla Rental Car Tips

1. Anguilla Drives On The Left

Anguilla is a British colony. Therefore, they drive on the left. If you’re coming from the USA, this sounds much worse than it is. After a day, it will feel totally normal. The trickiest thing about driving on “the wrong side of the road” are right-hand turns. A general rule of thumb is always look both ways.

2. You Must Purchase an Anguilla Drivers License

This sounds shady AF, but it’s the rules. Tourists can purchase an Anguilla driver’s license right at the Anguilla car rental company. There is no test, just some paperwork. Honestly, it’s just another way for the government to get a few more dollars out of tourists.

$25 for a 3-month driver’s license
$ 15 for a 72-hour driver’s license

3. Reserve Your Rental Car In Advance

No matter if you’re taking the Anguilla ferry from St. Maarten or flying into Anguilla, there are car rental companies at both locations. Make sure to book online in advance. If you don’t reserve a car ahead of time, there might not be any available.

There is no reason to pay for a taxi to or from your hotel. There are several vehicle types: standard, convertible, SUV, minivan, and passenger van. We got the cheapest rental car for $35 a day, but the most expensive is only $60 a day. For a week’s rental, it’s on average $250 for Suzuki Jimny.

4. Anguilla Is Small

Anguilla is a small island, only 16 miles long and 3 miles wide at the widest point. If you take a wrong turn, it’s no big deal. It takes less than 1 hour to drive from one end of the island to the other.

5. Download Driving Directions

If you don’t have a data plan on your phone, just pull up the driving directions on Google Maps when still on wifi. Once you disconnect from Wifi, maps will still track your current location and the directions that are preloaded. However, your phone won’t talk to you and say, “turn left now,” so you’ll still need a copilot.

There are two main cell providers on the island Digicel and Flow. We have T-Mobile in the USA, which has international coverage in Anguilla using Flow cell towers.

Related Article: A Day At Sandy Island Anguilla

6. Watch for Roundabouts

There are way more roundabouts than I’d like. If you do have data on your phone, don’t necessarily listen to the directions, as we found they always say, “Take the first exit in the traffic circle” and 90% of the time, it was the second or third exit.

When approaching a roundabout, look at the map and decide which exit looks right. If you take the wrong exit like we did ALL the time, just turn around.

7. There is Very Little Traffic

There is very little traffic in Anguilla, unlike the traffic in neighboring St. Maarten. Because there aren’t a ton of people on the roads, it makes driving a rental car in Anguilla less stressful. Most vehicles on the roads are automobiles, very few mopeds, and pedestrians.

8. Additional Car Insurance & Child Car Seats

Additional car insurance is not mandatory but is available. If you’re traveling with children, Junie’s Car Rental has car seats & booster seats available for rent. There is no reason to lug yours from home all the way to Anguilla. When making your car reservation, make sure to let them know you’d need a car seat, etc., so that they can save one for you.

$ 5 a day additional car insurance
$5 a day car seats and booster seats
$10 a day for two beach chairs, an umbrella, and a cooler

Don’t forget your insurance! You never know when you’ll need it. We suggest getting travel insurance with Safety Wing. Which coverage includes medical, trip interruption, lost luggage, and more. Often rates are as low as $12 a week.

9. Watch Out for Speed Bumps & Ditch Drains

Keep your eyes open for speed bumps & ditch drains. Usually, there is a sign warning you in advance. They are common in areas with several houses.

10. All Beaches in Anguilla are Public

If you’re driving down a road and see a gorgeous beach, don’t be afraid to go there. All the beaches in Anguilla are public. Even if there is a hotel on the beach, there have to have public beach access.

When we visited Cap Jucula they had a special parking lot for public beach access guests and designated paths. Just ask someone where the public beach access path is, they will point you in the right direction. If you want epic photos like the above, invest in a drone, click here for my drone guide.

11. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Lost

Some of the best adventures are the ones that weren’t planned at all. Getting lost is fun! You discover places you never heard of and possibly aren’t even on the map. I don’t think you can truly get lost on the small island of Anguilla. We found one of the best restaurants in Anguilla while “lost.”

12. Watch Out for Goats

The only traffic jam on the island will be caused by goats. Not joking! Just stop and let these little guys cross the road safely.

13. You Won’t Use Much Gas

We had to have driven around the island literally five times by the time we had to return our Anguilla rental car. We were on a mission to see all the Anguilla attractions. There are two gas stations on the road right down to Blowing Point Terminal. We only used 4 gallons of gas for our entire trip, which cost us roughly $25.

13 Things To Know When Renting a Car in Anguilla