Car Rental in St Barts – Insiders’ Tips

There are several rental car companies on the island and you can either pick up your vehicle at the airport, seaport or have it delivered right to your villa. 

To best explore and experience all that St. Barts has to offer, you will want to rent a car. There is no public transportation on the island, no Uber or Lyft drivers, and very few taxis. 

With one call or email to WIMCO’s concierge department, you can access availability for all local rental car agencies, so there is no need for you to shop around. We offer the best price guarantee on car rental rates in St Barts.

Your WIMCO representative can help you choose a vehicle, reserve it and arrange a pickup or delivery time.

Available Cars To Rent In St Barts

The inventory of cars on St Barts is constantly changing. We recommend making arrangements for your car as soon as you reserve your villa. 

Our friendly staff at WIMCO can handle this for you. Just tell us what type of vehicle you'd prefer and whether you want to pick it up at the airport, ferry dock, or have it delivered to your villa.

The Most Popular Cars To Rent In St Barts

There are many fun and practical cars to choose from on St Barts. Most rental cars are small, though, better for navigating the narrow roads, and for finding parking. The average SUV looks very out of place on St Barths. 

Available vehicles range from Jeep Wranglers to the trendy Mini Cooper to the sleek BMW Series 2 Convertible to the iconic Mini Moke. Mini Coopers are also widely available. 

Because St Barts is so mountainous, with many steep roads, all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicles, such as the Jeep Wrangler, Mini Moke or Suzuki Jimny are good choices. They are small, sturdy, and have the ground clearance necessary to not get in trouble on the island's steep roads.

Here we listed some of the best cars in St Barts based on your preference:

Best For Couples

MINI COOPER
JEEP WRANGLER 3 doors, 4X4
BMW SERIES 2 Convertible
MINI MOKE

Best For Small Families

SUZUKI VITARA 4X4
MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY
HONDA XN-V Electric

Best For Big Families Or Large Groups

CHRYSLER PACIFICA

Best For Adventurers

JEEP WRANGLER 5 doors, 4X4
JEEP WRANGLER 3 doors, 4X4
SUZUKI JIMNY
SUZUKI VITARA 4X4

Best Convertibles

MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN
BMW SERIES 2
MINI MOKE

Important Things To Know Before Renting A Car In St Barts

To ensure that your car rental experience goes smoothly while you are on St Barts, we've put together a few tips.

• Your driver's license is all you need to drive legally on St Barts.

• Renting a vehicle from a local company (rather than a franchise of a national company) will help you ensure that the type of vehicle you want will be available when you arrive on St Barts.

• We advise against using travel product aggregators like Kayak or Expedia, since they generally do not have contracts with local companies, so you may not get the car you “reserve.”

• We can’t stress enough that it is crucial to reserve your car rental well before your arrival. This is especially true for the holiday season.

• Unlike many other parts of the world, a seven-day rental is required on St Barts to qualify for a weekly rate.

• During the holiday season, from December 15 through January 7, there is a 10-day minimum rental period for car rentals.

• Also, during this holiday period, car rental companies may charge a penalty for late cancellations. This is usually defined as a 30% penalty for cancellation between 15 and 30 days prior to arrival and 100% penalty for cancellation within 15 days of arrival.

• Wearing seatbelts is required on St Barts.

• The speed limit on island roads is 50 kph (about 30 mph).

• Vehicles travel on the right side of the road on St Barts (just like in the US, Canada or France).

• It's important to watch your fuel gauge while you're on St Barts. There are only two gas stations on the island--one in L'Orient and one at the airport. Neither is open on Sunday. 

• Gas pumps on St Barts do not accept US or Canadian (non-EEC) credit cards. You'll have to go inside and pay for your fuel with cash.

What Kind Of Cars Can You Rent On St Barts?

Cars are different on St Barts from what you'll find in most other parts of North America. They are smaller, which is ideal for navigating the narrower, winding mountain roads. 

Cars that are commonly available to rent on St Barts include...

• Mini Moke (read more about these iconic St Barts vehicles below.)

• Suzuki Jimny

• Smart ForTwo

• Kia Picanto

• Mini Cooper

• Jeep Wrangler

• Renault Duster

A few of the rental car companies on St Barts keep a handful of "special" (luxury) cars in their inventory. These are often not listed and must be requested well in advance. These special cars are rarely available during peak season.

About the Mini Moke and St Barts

One vehicle closely associated with the island of St Barts is the Mini Moke. Designed in the early 1960s by Sir Alec Issigonis, the father of the Austin Mini. 

The Mini Moke quickly gained cult status in St Barts and the French Riviera. James Bond and Brigitte Bardot were both early converts, and David Letterman helped spread its popularity in St Barts.

The Moke brand was popular in St Barts in the ‘80s and ‘90s then faded away. In 2018 Moke International relaunched the Moke brand with a redesign and re-engineering led by British designer Michael Young. The new 21st-century Moke remains faithful to its origins and classic look while offering features that today’s drivers will appreciate. 

The Moke is an open-sided mini Jeep-like vehicle. Its small size and generous ground clearance are ideal for navigating the narrow streets of Gustavia, and the steep mountain roads of St Barts. 

St Barts Rental Companies — The Inside Scoop 

There are several car rental agencies on St Barts. These include...

Local Car rental companies

• Top Loc

• Barthloc

• Turbe Car Rental

• Maurice Car Rental

• Gumbs Car Rental

• Soleil Caraibes

• Welcome Car Rental

• Oscar Car Rentals St Barts

• Cool Rentals

International Car Rental Franchises

• Hertz

• Alamo

• Thrifty

• Avis

• Sixt

• Budget

Several of these St Barts car rental companies have a desk at the airport. Others have an office nearby and will meet you at the airport. WIMCO has good working relationships with all local rental car companies and offers a best-price match guarantee, so with one call you can access the inventory of all rental car companies on St Barts.