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Driving in Trinidad & Tobago: 25 Tips for Americans

💡The Big Picture

Drive on the LEFT, look RIGHT first at intersections, yield to traffic in the roundabout, and always carry your IDP. Most American mistakes happen pulling out of parking lots.

Tips 1–5: The Mental Model Shift

  1. Accept the 10–15 minute adjustment. Almost every US driver gets the hang of left-side driving within a quarter hour on quiet roads. Don't fight it — let your brain accept the new default. Then plan your first 30 minutes of driving on low-stress roads.
  2. Look RIGHT first at every intersection. Cars come from your right in Trinidad & Tobago, not your left. Train yourself to scan right before any pull-out or merge — opposite of US instinct.
  3. Steering wheel on the right, gear shift on your left. If you're in a manual rental, your shift hand is now your left. The pedals are in the same order (clutch, brake, accelerator from left to right) — only the gear stick swaps sides.
  4. Indicator stalk and wiper stalk are swapped. In many right-hand-drive cars, the indicator is on the right of the steering column and wipers on the left — opposite of US cars. Expect to flick the wipers on by mistake during your first 24 hours. Locals laugh.
  5. The driver should be near the centerline. Your fastest sanity check: if the curb is closer to the passenger side than the driver side, you're in the correct (left) lane. If it's flipped, correct now.

Tips 6–10: Road Mechanics

  1. Roundabouts: yield to traffic from your right. Traffic already in the roundabout has the right of way, and in Trinidad & Tobago that traffic comes at you from your right side. Signal left before your exit. Locals expect this and get aggressive if you don't.
  2. Watch for "pot-hongs" (potholes). The Trini slang for potholes is recognizable. They're common on secondary roads. Drivers swerve around them — sometimes into oncoming lanes. Hold your speed, brace for impact, or follow the local car ahead.
  3. No turn on red — not even left. Trinidad & Tobago has no "turn on red" concept. A red light is a full stop. Wait for green.
  4. Use Google Maps with care — it still says "turn left." Google Maps gives instructions assuming you understand which side of the road you're on. "Turn left at the roundabout" still means exit-left from a clockwise-rotation roundabout. Mentally do the swap.
  5. Overtake on the right. The faster lane on multi-lane highways like Solomon Hochoy is the right lane. Keep left when cruising; pull right to pass.

Tips 11–15: Traffic & Local Drivers

  1. The "maxi taxi" system. Maxi taxis are color-coded shared minibuses (different routes by color). They stop unpredictably to pick up and drop passengers. Stay alert behind a maxi — they brake without warning. Don't honk at them; locals will think you're rude.
  2. Route taxis are also a thing. Regular sedans operating as shared taxis on fixed routes. Same braking pattern as maxi taxis. They have an "H" prefix on the license plate.
  3. Carnival traffic is its own beast. Feb/March: Port of Spain becomes 2–3x slower. Major closures around the Savannah, Ariapita Avenue, and downtown during the parades. Don't try to rent a car for Carnival Monday or Tuesday — stay put.
  4. Drivers honk to say "thanks" and "hello." A short toot can mean acknowledgment, a friendly wave, or "I see you." It's not necessarily aggression. A long blast, however, means something is genuinely wrong.
  5. Gas station etiquette. Most stations are full-service. Pull up, the attendant fills your tank, you pay them directly (cash or card). Tipping is not expected but a few TT dollars are appreciated.

Tips 16–20: Cultural Awareness

  1. "Liming" is what people are doing on the side of the road. Liming = hanging out. Groups of people standing around outside a bar, food stall, or roadside spot are normal. Slow down, give space.
  2. If stopped by the TTPS, stay polite. Pull onto the left shoulder. Keep hands visible. Hand over your US license, IDP, rental contract. Be respectful — Trini officers respond well to courtesy. Never offer cash directly: that's a separate crime.
  3. Always ask for an official ticket. A real TTPS ticket has a printed reference number, officer ID, and the offense listed. If anyone asks for "on-the-spot fees" without paperwork, ask for the ticket — or politely ask for a supervisor.
  4. Drive defensively, not aggressively. Trinidadians are confident drivers and will use any gap. As a tourist, hold your line, let them push past, and don't try to "win" the lane — you're already mentally taxed by left-side driving.
  5. Be patient with school zones. When school lets out (around 3 PM), traffic around primary and secondary schools is significantly slower. School zones are 30 km/h and strictly enforced.

Tips 21–25: Practical Day-to-Day

  1. Parking in Port of Spain. The CBD has paid lots ($20–$60 TTD per session). Street parking is limited and tow-aways are real — the Wrightson Road impound is not somewhere you want your rental ending up.
  2. Carry small TT bills. Roadside vendors at Maracas Beach, Pigeon Point, and along the North Coast Road usually take cash only. Have $20s and $100s TTD on hand.
  3. Tobago is the easier island. Slower traffic, friendlier drivers, simpler roads. If you're nervous about left-side driving, start your trip there.
  4. Ferry tips. The inter-island ferry runs between Port of Spain and Scarborough several times a week, taking 2.5–3 hours. Foot passenger tickets are affordable, but most rental contracts forbid putting the rental car on the ferry. Just fly between the islands (25 minutes).
  5. Lock your rental, every time. Don't leave valuables visible. Most parking is safe, but visible cameras, laptops, or bags invite smash-and-grabs at remote beach lots. Use the trunk before you arrive — not in the parking spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Your IDP Before You Fly

An IDP costs $20 from AAA or AATA, takes 1–2 weeks by mail, and is required at nearly every rental counter in Trinidad & Tobago.

Apply for Your IDP Today

More on Driving in Trinidad & Tobago

Can I Drive in Trinidad & Tobago?
License rules and requirements for Americans.
Car Rental in Trinidad & Tobago
Agencies, costs, and left-side driving prep.
Trinidad & Tobago Driving Rules
Left-side driving, roundabouts, and speed limits.
Trinidad & Tobago Fines
All TTD/USD penalty amounts for 2026.
Trinidad & Tobago Road Trip
Maracas Beach, Pitch Lake, Tobago coastal loop.
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