Offroad driving can be fun, but many robust-looking
vehicles
(such as this Ford Explorer) have very poor off-road abilities.
North Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands |
Renting a car is a necessity for those who want to explore
Providenciales, or simply get away from the Grace Bay tourist area.
There isn't any public transportation on Providenciales, so the only
alternative to taxis is renting a car.
Most cars in the country are left-hand drive cars imported from the
United States. However, traffics drives on the left as in the UK.
Beware of other drivers
Many people in
the Turks and Caicos drive dangerously. This is especially common with
Haitian immigrants, many of whom operate illegal, unlicensed taxi
services. Along with more official looking (usually) illegal 'bus'
services, these drivers will stop directly in traffic lanes to pick up
additional passengers, and in addition will cut directly in front of you
to reenter traffic or for turning.
Your best course is to keep a safe distance to drivers in front of you
(much more than US or UK recommended lengths), and be ready for cars to
stop suddenly or cut in front. In addition, ensure that you stay
within the speed limit as several roads have hidden hazards, such as
difficult to see speed humps (speed bumps) and pot-holes due to poor
maintenance.
If you're planning to drive off the beaten path, you may be interested
in reading our section on
safety and crime
and also our article on the
layout and
districts of Providenciales.
Typical sign at a roundabout in the Turks and Caicos Islands. |
Signs
Until recently (2011) there were few direction signs on Providenciales.
Due to a failure of emergency services to find locations (many times
because streets and roads didn't have any names), the government
implemented a programme to name and put up signs for all roads in the
country.
Roundabouts frequently have signs posted from all directions. In other countries the top
line of text usually says the name or area of the roundabout, but the
Turks and Caicos instead uses names of prominent people from the country.
For American and Canadian tourists
We drive on the left. There are no stoplights in the country, and
traffic is regulated through the use of roundabouts. When entering a
roundabout, give way to traffic on your RIGHT. Once you are inside a
roundabout, you have right of way until you exit the roundabout.
HOWEVER, many drivers in the Turks and Caicos have their own
interpretation of how to use roundabouts so be prepared to stop and give
way to other drivers.
Here are three British style road signs in use in the Turks and Caicos
which might confuse North American visitors:
 |
 |
 |
| Roundabout Ahead |
No Overtaking
(No Passing) |
Low-Flying Aircraft or Sudden Aircraft Noise |
For British tourists
The Turks and Caicos follows the UK Highway Code protocol. However,
don't expect drivers to give you the same courtesy as in the UK and as
always be prepared to stop or slow down for other drivers.
One note is that brown road signs in the UK denote an attraction, such as
a zoo or castle. Green signs are reserved for primary routes. For some
unknown reason the Turks and Caicos has several brown road signs to
denote local and primary routes, in addition to using the correct green
(primary) and white (local) routes.
None of the few tourist attractions on Providenciales use the brown
sign.
 |
 |
| Correct usage of
green for primary routes in the United Kingdom. |
Incorrect usage of brown for some
primary and local routes in the Turks and
Caicos Islands. |
Typical Rental Requirements
Minimum driving age is
usually 25 (18 for scooters).
Valid Drivers license required (you don't need an International Driver
Permit, unless your license is in a language other than English)
Some companies may have additional requirements.
Fuel Costs
Gasoline is quite expensive here at around $5
a gallon (March 2011).
Scooters
We don't recommend you rent a scooter in
Providenciales. This because of a combination of poor drivers and
sometimes poorly maintained roads. If you do decide to rent a
scooter, it's highly recommended you stay within the Grace Bay area as
speed limits are lower and there is less traffic.
Rental Car Companies