Getting around

Getting on the road

All you need to know about driving in Bermuda

Mdriving on our roads a bit peculiar. After all, if you’re from North America, here you will be driving on the “wrong” side of narrow, single-lane roads. You will also have to adjust your speed to our 35 kph (20 mph) limit and get used to driving in what Americans call a compact or subcompact car — or small family car in British acceptation. There’s also the issue of being allowed only one car per household.

Within no time, however, you will appreciate and enjoy being out and about on some of the most beautiful drives in the world.

One of the pleasures of living in Bermuda is that it doesn’t take long to get anywhere, even with the slower speeds at which we ride. If you choose to live at the extreme east or west ends of the island, your commute into Hamilton will be 30 minutes or less and only 5 or 10 minutes when you live in Pembroke, Paget, or Devonshire Parishes.

Prices for new cars are higher than in North America and Europe, due to shipping and import duty rates. However, we strongly recommend buying here. There are severe restrictions on importing your own vehicle.

One of the least-expensive cars available is the Renault KWID at $17,450, available from Eurocar. ZOE electric from $45,950. Auto Solutions has a wide range of cars to choose from such as the Hyundai KONA Electric, $47,995, the Suzuki Swift, $30,995, and it also imports Mitsubishi, Honda and Mazda vehicles. running costs for a car in Bermuda less than back home. Although the price of gas (petrol) is relatively high in Bermuda compared with other countries (currently $2.24 per litre, or $8.50 per gallon), you’ll likely be short distances driven. Insurance is reasonable, and, because it’s unlikely that you will be clocking up high mileage, maintenance and repairs should be minimal.

Due to our narrow roads, the size of private cars allowed in Bermuda is strictly controlled with a maximum length of 175 inches and maximum width of 71 inches. Engine size is also restricted to a maximum of 2,500 cubic centimeters.

As mentioned earlier, cars are restricted to one per household; otherwise, our roads would become far too crowded. When looking to rent a property, ensure it has an annual rental value (ARV) number available to you in order to register a vehicle. There is no restriction on the number of motorbikes or scooters you they can manage transportation comfortably.

The only driving licenses accepted in Bermuda are those issued by the Transport Control Department (TCD). You will be required to take a written and practical driving test for a car or motorbike. Your new car or bike will also have to be tested for roadworthiness and registered with TCD. Annual car license fees vary from $358 for the smallest category of car to $1,732 for the largest cars.

Parking around Bermuda is generally free, with the exception of parking in Hamilton. It costs $5 per day in several car parks on the outskirts of the city created for commuters, $2 per hour (maximum 3 hours) in the centrally located car parks intended for shoppers such as at City Hall, and $2 per hour to park on the street.