North America > 🇻🇨 St Vincent and the Grenadines
The city by city Car or no Car advice for St Vincent and the Grenadines can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in St Vincent and the Grenadines; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in St Vincent and the Grenadines?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in St Vincent and the Grenadines?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🏙️ Main Cities in St Vincent and the Grenadines
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Kingstown | SVD |
Should You Rent a Car in St Vincent & the Grenadines?
This beautiful island nation mixes steep volcanic terrain, small villages, and world-class sailing islands. Because of that, the answer depends heavily on where you’re staying and how much exploring you want to do.
🌋 Getting Around St Vincent (the main island)
St Vincent is rugged, green, and dramatic. The roads twist, climb, and drop — sometimes very sharply. Driving here isn’t impossible, but it’s not for nervous drivers 🚗💨😬.
You might want a car on St Vincent because:
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Distances can be long between beaches and towns
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Public minibuses are cheap but crowded and inconsistent
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Taxis add up quickly if you do multiple day trips
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Waterfalls, trailheads, and inland scenery are best reached by car
However, many visitors avoid driving because:
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The island’s roads are narrow and rough in places
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Urban driving in Kingstown can be chaotic
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Parking isn’t always easy
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Road signs are minimal
👉 If you plan to explore the interior, chase waterfalls, or see both coasts, renting a car for 2–3 days makes sense.
🛥️ The Grenadines — Why Cars Are Often Pointless
This is the big twist ⭐.
Most travellers come for:
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Bequia
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Mustique
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Canouan
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Union Island
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Palm Island
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Mayreau
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The Tobago Cays
On these islands, a car is usually overkill.
Why you don’t need a car:
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Distances are tiny (Bequia takes <15 minutes end to end)
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Taxis, shared pickups, or small open-air shuttles are common
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Walking is easy and pleasant
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Boats are the main way to hop between beaches and villages
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Many resorts arrange transfers for you
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Mustique’s restrictions make private driving almost irrelevant
👉 The Grenadines are boat-and-taxi islands, not driving islands. ⛵🌞
⛴️ Ferries & Inter-Island Travel
In practice, ferries and speedboats do most of the heavy lifting:
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Bequia ferry from Kingstown: frequent and cheap
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Bequia ↔ Mustique / Canouan / Mayreau / Union Island: limited schedules
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Water taxis between Union Island & the Tobago Cays are common
This makes renting on St Vincent but not in the Grenadines very normal.
✈️ Car Rental Practicalities
Car rentals are available at:
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Argyle International Airport (AIA) ✈️
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Kingstown
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Major hotels (on-request)
Requirements:
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Temporary local driving permit (easy to get)
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Higher prices than mainland destinations
👉 If you want freedom on the main island, rent at AIA for 2–4 days, then return it and ferry south.
⭐ Verdict — Should You Rent a Car in St Vincent & the Grenadines?
👍 YES — rent a car if:
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You want to explore St Vincent’s waterfalls, beaches, and back roads
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You’re confident with steep, narrow, occasionally chaotic driving
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You want flexibility without relying on taxis
👎 NO — skip the car if:
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You’re based mainly in the Grenadines
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You prefer ferries, taxis, water taxis, and organised excursions
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You’re staying in a resort that arranges all transfers
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You want a calmer, slower, more Caribbean style of exploring
🌴 Overall
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St Vincent = a car can be helpful for scenery and independence.
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The Grenadines = no car needed — boats rule here.
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Best hybrid plan: rent a car for a few days on St Vincent → return it → ferry into the Grenadines → enjoy a car-free paradise.