Driving in North America – Let’s explore here
If you’re thinking about driving in North America on an overland journey, you should make yourself aware of the different regulations for each country. Our North American country pages detail lots of information by country. This page summaries information for the whole of North America on international driving permits, carnet de passages requirements, as well as other useful information.
Do you require an international driving permit in North America?
You may require an international driving permit in North America, depending on which country you are travelling through. There are three types of permit: 1926, 1949 and 1968. For UK citizens, international driving permits can be bought from the post office.
The 1968 permit lasts for 3 years or until your UK driving licence expires, whichever comes first. A 1926 or 1949 permit lasts for 12 months.
The table below shows which international driving permit is required for each North American country.
Can you use your UK driving license when driving through North America?
For some North American countries you do not require an international driving license, as your UK driving license is valid. This is especially the case for short term visits, or when transiting through the country on an overland journey.
The table below shows which North American countries you can drive in with your UK driving license.
You may also find it useful to refer to our other information on driving abroad within each individual country page, as well as our information on obtaining a Carnet de passage. You may also find it useful to refer to our other information on visas.
International driving permit and Carnet de passage information by North American country
| Country | International driving permit required | Notes |
| Anguilla | No | An Anguilla driving licence is required to drive in Anguilla. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. Car hire companies will usually help with this. |
| Antigua and Barbuda | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Antigua and Barbuda. |
| Aruba | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Aruba. |
| Bahamas | 1968 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in The Bahamas. |
| Barbados | 1949 | A Barbados driving licence is required to drive in Barbados. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. You can buy one from a car hire company or online from the Barbados Revenue Authority. You must also carry your UK driving licence. |
| Belize | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Belize. |
| Bermuda | No | Tourists are not allowed to drive cars in Bermuda. |
| Bonaire | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Bonaire. |
| British Virgin Islands | No | You can use a UK photo card driving license to drive in the BVI for up to 30 days. |
| Canada | 1949 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Canada. |
| Cayman Islands | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the Cayman Islands. |
| Costa Rica | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Costa Rica. Border authorities may refuse entry to right-hand drive vehicles as they’re illegal and do not qualify for local insurance. |
| Cuba | 1968 | You can use a UK photo card driving license to drive in Cuba for up to 6 months. |
| Curaçao | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Curaçao. |
| Dominica | No | A Dominican driving licence is required to drive in Dominica. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. Car hire companies will usually help with this. |
| Dominican Republic | 1949 | You can use a UK photo card driving license to drive in the Dominican Republic for up to 3 months. |
| El Salvador | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in El Salvador for up to 90 days. |
| Grenada | No | A Grenadian driving licence is required to drive in Dominica. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. Car hire companies will usually help with this. |
| Guadeloupe | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Guadeloupe. |
| Guatemala | 1949 | You can use a UK photo card driving license to drive in Guatemala for up to 3 months. |
| Haiti | 1949 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Haiti for up to 90 days. |
| Honduras | No | You can use a UK photo card driving license to drive in Honduras for up to 3 months. |
| Jamaica | 1949 | Carnet de Passage required. You can use a UK photo card driving license to drive in Jamaica for up to 6 months. |
| Martinique | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Martinique. |
| Mexico | 1926 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Mexico. |
| Montserrat | No | A Montserrat driving licence is required to drive in Montserrat. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. You can buy one from a car hire company or from any police station. |
| Nicaragua | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Nicaragua. You cannot drive or import right-hand-drive vehicles into Nicaragua. |
| Panama | No | You can use a UK photo card driving license to drive in Panama for up to 3 months. |
| Puerto Rico | 1949 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the USA. |
| Saba | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Saba. |
| Saint Barthélemy | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Saint Barthélemy. |
| Sint Eustatius | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Sint Eustatius. |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | No | A Saint Kitts and Nevis driving licence is required to drive in Saint Kitts and Nevis. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. You can buy one from a car hire company or from the Inland revenue. |
| Saint Martin / Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Saint Martin. |
| Saint Lucia | 1949 | A Saint Lucia driving licence is required to drive in Saint Lucia. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. You can buy one from a car hire company or from the Department of Transport in Union, Castries. |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | No | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Saint Martin. |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1949 | A Saint Vincent and the Grenadines driving licence is required to drive in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to obtain one. You can buy one from a car hire company |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1949 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Trinidad and Tobago for up to 90 days. |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | No | You can use a UK photo card driving license to drive in the Turks and Caicos islands for up to one month. |
| United States of America | 1949 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the USA. |
| United States Virgin Islands | 1949 | You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the USA. |