Lifestyle
Car rental and driving in St. Martin: road rules and licences on both sides
Both sides of St. Martin drive on the right, and there is no physical border between them. Here is what official sources say about road rules and driving licences on the Dutch and French sides.
By SXM Daily ·
Last checked: 14 October 2026
Next check: 14 April 2027
Driving on St. Martin means driving on one island under two sets of rules. Traffic keeps to the right on both the Dutch and the French side, and there is no physical border between them. Licence rules, though, are set separately by each side. Here is what official sources say, whether you are renting a car for a week or have just moved here.
Photo: Paul Sableman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Crossing between the sides
There is no physical border between the French and Dutch sides. People and vehicles can travel freely between them, according to the Government of Canada's travel advice for Sint Maarten.
Dutch side (Sint Maarten)
- Side of the road: traffic keeps to the right (Government of Canada).
- Red lights: turning right on a red light is prohibited (Government of Canada).
- Driving age: the legal driving age is 18 (Government of Canada).
- Foreign licences: Canada's advice says Canadian driving licences can be used, and it recommends carrying an international driving permit. That advice is written for Canadian travellers. SXM Daily has not checked the official rules for visitors with other foreign licences, so we do not cover them here.
- Sint Maarten licences: a Sint Maarten driving licence is valid for up to five years. To renew it, you must be registered in the island's population register (Government of Sint Maarten).
French side (Saint-Martin)
- Side of the road: driving is on the right, under French rules.
- EU licences: a driving licence issued in a European Union country is valid.
- Non-EU licences: a licence from outside the EU is recognised until one year after the holder takes up normal residence in Saint-Martin. After that, it must be exchanged for a French licence if France has a reciprocity agreement with the country that issued it. If there is no such agreement, the holder has to pass the driving test.
The French-side licence rules are from the Collectivité de Saint-Martin's page on exchanging a foreign licence, updated on 9 September 2026.
Renting a car
This guide does not name rental companies or list prices or insurance terms. We have not found a dated official source for any of them, so check them with the rental company before you sign.
FAQ
Q: Which side of the road do you drive on in St. Martin?
A: The right, on both the Dutch and the French side.
Q: Can I drive a rental car from the Dutch side to the French side?
A: There is no physical border, and vehicles can travel freely between the two sides.
Q: Can I turn right on a red light in Sint Maarten?
A: No. Turning right on red is prohibited on the Dutch side.
Q: What is the legal driving age in Sint Maarten?
A: 18.
Q: Is my EU driving licence valid on the French side?
A: Yes. EU licences are valid in Saint-Martin.
Q: I live on the French side with a non-EU licence. How long can I use it?
A: Until one year after you take up normal residence. After that, you need to exchange it or, where there is no reciprocity agreement, pass the driving test.
Q: How long is a Sint Maarten driving licence valid?
A: Up to five years.
Sources
- https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/sint-maarten
- https://www.sintmaartengov.org/services/pages/DRIVERS-LICENSE-RENEWAL.aspx
- https://www.com-saint-martin.fr/thematiques/mobilite-et-transport/demarches-permis-de-conduire/demande-dechange-de-permis-de-conduire-etranger