For driving in Saint Kitts and Nevis, a foreign visitor is required to obtain a local visitor driver license, which may be obtained from the Traffic Department on presentation of a valid driver license issued by country of his permanent residence or/and International driving permit. To obtain temporary Saint Kitts and Nevis driver license, visitors must be 18 years of age or above.
A motor vehicle which has an International certificate issued elsewhere than in Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis in accordance with the provisions of any International Convention of road traffic may be driven in Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis while such certificate remains valid and be exempted from a requirement to register such motor vehicle for 90 days in any year.
If a motor vehicle is brought into Saint Christopher and Nevis for using by the owner during his visit and the owner does not hold an International certificate, a temporary license may be issued to use the motor vehicle without registration for not more than three months. Any visitor who imports into the State a vehicle of which he is a owner must, if his car does not have an International certificate, notify the traffic police within 48 hours of the importation. The owner has to furnish particulars of the identification marks of his vehicle from the country where it was last registered, and description of his vehicle. If other identification mark is not assigned by the Authority, the original car identification marks will be the identification marks for the using in the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis. An officer will give the Temporary Visitor’s Motor Vehicle Register in which must be entered: visitor's name, date of his arrival and date of arrival of his vehicle, description of the vehicle, identification car mark in country where it was last registered, temporary identification mark if assigned by the Authority.
To use his car, owner must comply with the provisions of the motor vehicles insurance, namely the Third-Party Risk coverage.
The main road traffic rules:
- Traffic moves on the left-hand side of the road.
- The minimum driving age is 17 years.
- The permitted blood alcohol level is 0.08%.
- It is mandatory to wear seats belts for a driver and front seat passengers while driving.
- Passengers under 12 years of age or weighing less than 40 pounds must wear a seat belt or be restrained in a specially designed detachable or removable seat.
- It is not legal to carry more than one person on a bicycle not propelled by mechanical power unless it is constructed for the carriage of more than one person.
- It is not lawful for more than two cyclists or motorcyclists to ride abreast on the road.
- It is illegal for more than one person in addition to the driver to be carried on a two-wheeled motorcycle.
- Any slow-moving vehicle must in the last left lane or keep to the left as much as possible.
- The speed limit in built up areas is 40 km/h (25 mph). In rural areas, the speed limit is 64 km/h(40 mph).
- The police phone number is 911.
Additional information:
- Any police officer may arrest, without warrant, the driver of who within his view commits any offense under the provisions of the Saint Kitts and Nevis road traffic rules, unless the driver either gives his name and address or his driver licence for examination.
- In the case of an accident, a driver of any vehicle or cycle, or motorcycle must stop immediately and give his name and address, the name and address of the owner of the vehicle, the registration number of his vehicle,
- the name of the insurance company with which his vehicle is insured to any person interested in the accident, and report to the police station within 24 hours.
- Carrying out repairs to a vehicle on the road is allowed only in cases of accident where repair on the spot is necessary.
Driving Overseas - Short Information