This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by

Driving in Jamaica: the three basics

Drives on the
left

The driver sits on the right and overtakes on the right. Roundabouts turn clockwise.

Your licence
Licence plus an IDP

Your own licence works with an International Driving Permit beside it. Get the permit at home before you fly - no country issues one for another country's licence.

Motorways
Tolls by distance

Motorways charge for the distance driven, at barriers or by camera. Budget for it on a long drive; it is rarely trivial.

Jamaica drives on the left, Highway 2000 is tolled and quick, and the rest of the network is slow and potholed.

Left-hand traffic, one good toll road, and a lot of narrow, potholed alternatives.

  • Highway 2000 is tolled and turns the Kingston-Ocho Rios and Kingston-May Pen runs into a fraction of the old time.
  • The rest of the network is slow. The north coast road is scenic and heavily potholed, and mountain routes across the island take hours.
  • Traffic drives on the left and local overtaking is assertive, particularly by route taxis.
  • The alcohol limit is 0.035 % - lower than most of the region.
  • Night driving outside the resort corridors is avoided, and unlit pedestrians on the verge are the specific hazard.

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Sources (1)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.