Driving in Belize: Ultimate Car Hire Guide (2023)
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Researching what it’s like driving in Belize? We’ve been there! I’ll be honest, we were a little unsure about hiring a car in Belize. From safety to road conditions, police checkpoints and even hitchhikers – we didn’t know where to start!
But I promise, driving in Belize isn’t as daunting as it sounds, and if you’re visiting for the first time, the best way to explore the hidden gems is by rental car.
In short, it is exceptionally safe to drive as an international driver in Belize. We didn’t encounter any issues and found the main road conditions to be excellent (apart from the off-road driving in Mountain Pine Ridge).
NOTE: you have to be 18 years old (or older, depending on the company) to hire a car in Belize.
This guide to driving in Belize includes safety information and useful tips for self-driving in Belize.
The following guide about driving in Belize includes safety tips, prices, driving distances and more for hiring a car in Belize. It is written from the view of a UK driver, but it can be implemented in any way regardless of your nationality.
Backpacking Belize? Check out my other posts!
- Backpacking Belize: A Complete Guide (2023)
- How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide 2023
- Backpacking San Ignacio: COMPLETE Guide! 2023
- Backpacking Caye Caulker: Everything You Need To Know (2023)
Driving in Belize: A Summary
Renting a car in Belize isn’t the cheapest option, but it’s one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country. Whilst backpacking Belize, we hired a car to explore the national parks and areas around San Ignacio.
Yes, we could have done this with a tour, but we like to get off the beaten track and explore places by ourselves.
So, first of all, is it safe to drive in Belize? Of course, we had our doubts, like we did when we hired a car in Jordan for the first time (and then realised that was incredibly safe).
When I was researching our trip to Belize from England, I looked more at shuttles and taxis, as I just didn’t think driving through a Central American country would be the safest way to get around. I was totally wrong!
Driving in Belize is just as safe as driving in the UK. The roads are well-maintained and not too busy (you may encounter the odd traffic jam at rush hour), and the police at the checkpoints are friendly and just want to check your vehicle is insured.
However, rules, signposts and behaviour do differ slightly from the UK. For example, Belize drives on the right-hand side, whereas the UK drives on the left.
But the attitudes of other drivers on the road were pretty relaxed – we didn’t come into contact with any drivers with road rage or aggression.
Quick facts for driving in Belize
Here are some quick facts and tips for driving in Belize.
| Minimum age to rent a car in Belize | 18+ |
| Documents needed | Credit card, passport, regular driving license (an international driving license is not needed) |
| Average price per day | $65-75 USD |
| Seatbelts | Mandatory |
| Automatic or manual | Most cars in Belize are automatic |
| National speed limit | 55 mph (highways), 25 mph (cities) |
| Driving side | Right |
| Gas stations | Gas is filled for you by a member of staff. Can pay on both card or cash. Tips are not expected. |
| Drink driving laws | Same as in the UK. The legal limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. |
| Cell phone laws | Serious offence – strongly advised not to use a cell phone whilst driving |
| Road sign language | English |
| Police checks | Occasionally, to check the insurance of the vehicle. Your rental car will have a sticker on the front window for this, so you don’t need to worry about it. |
| Speed bumps | Yes – occasionally |
| Driving at night | Not recommended |
| Good to know | Wildlife roams the street 24 hours a day, especially on the Hummingbird Highway! |
I don’t recommend hiring a car to travel between locations in Belize if you’re on a budget (for example Caye Caulker to San Ignacio) as shuttles are much cheaper. But once you’re in an area like San Ignacio, hiring a car is a great way to get around and explore more of the country.
Hiring a car in Belize
If you want to make the most out of trip backpacking Belize and explore the surrounding areas (such as the Hummingbird Highway and the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve), you will need to hire a car.
We hired a 4×4 because the roads within the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve can be bumpy, and it had been raining the day before so some of the side roads were quite muddy. However, the main roads in Belize are smooth, easy to drive on and safe.
If you’re hiring a car in San Ignacio, we used Matus Car Rental. We had a great experience with them, found the owner to be super helpful and loved our 4×4. If they don’t have availability, there is also Caye Auto Rentals.
Prices for car rentals in San Ignacio start at $65 (USD) per day.
Documents needed for driving in Belize
If you are hiring a car in Belize from the UK or US, you will need the following documents:
- Passport
- Driving license (international license not needed)
- Credit card (NOT debit card – this is for a deposit)
Note that the credit card name must be the same as the driver hiring the car.
If you do not have one of these documents, you will not be able to hire a car in Belize.
BACKPACKING BELIZE? You might also like my detailed guides on San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, and my overall guide to backpacking Belize!
How much does renting a car in Belize cost?
This depends on who you rent from, but in general, renting a car in Belize costs between $65-75 USD a day. If you are younger than 25, you may be asked to pay a daily surcharge to cover an additional security deposit.
Insurance is usually included in this price, but be sure to check with the car rental company you are booking with. It is illegal to drive in Belize without insurance.
Where to rent a car in Belize
The best places to rent a car will be San Ignacio, Placencia or Hopkins. In doing this, you can drive along scenic roads like the Hummingbird Highway and explore the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve.
If you’re only visiting the islands in Belize (San Pedro or Caye Caulker), renting a car is not necessary. Islands in Belize are walkable (or you can take a golf cart if necessary).
Driving distances in Belize
Good news – Belize is tiny! Driving from the east of the country over to the west will only take around 2 hours. You can drive to most locations in Belize in under a few hours.
Here are some handy driving distances in Belize:
- San Ignacio > Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve: 50km, 1 hour
- Belize City > San Ignacio: 115km, 2 hours
- San Ignacio > Hummingbird Highway: 66km, 1.15 hours
- Placencia > Hopkins: 65km, 1 hour
- Hopkins > San Ignacio: 140km, 2 hours
- San Ignacio > Guatemalan border: 14km, 20 minutes
Petrol and gas stations in Belize
When driving in Belize, you will need to use the petrol/gas stations to fill up your tank occasionally. It’s important to note that these are quite sporadic, so if you can see your tank running low, stop when you see the next gas station. It isn’t worth the risk!
Gas isn’t too expensive, and will be filled up by the member of staff working there, meaning you don’t have to leave your car at all. Gas can be paid for by either cash or card. Tips are not expected.
Speed limits in Belize
The speed limits in Belize are lower than the UK, and are 55 mph / 88 kmh on highways and 25 mph / 40kmh in cities. Speed limits in Belize are measured in miles per hour.
BACKPACKING BELIZE? You might also like my detailed guides on San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, and my overall guide to backpacking Belize!
Police checkpoints in Belize whilst driving
You may be asked to stop at a police checkpoint whilst driving in Belize. Don’t freak out – this is an easy process and they are simply checking the insurance is up-to-date on your vehicle.
If you have hired a car in Belize (which I’m sure you have, and not bought one), you do not need to worry about this. The company you will have hired from will have displayed your vehicle’s insurance clearly on the windscreen. Police will wave you on as soon as they have checked this front sticker.
To avoid being pulled over by the police whilst driving in Belize, stick to the speed limits, slow down at a speed bump, don’t use your mobile phone and use common driving sense.
Follow the laws of the road and you should be fine. It is uncommon for police to bribe tourist drivers on the road as of 2023.
Laws on overtaking in Belize
Laws on overtaking whilst driving in Belize are similar to anywhere else. If you need to overtake, you should do so on the left. Of course, make sure the road ahead of you is clear, and never overtake on a corner or if your vision ahead is impaired.
If you are overtaking at night, be sure to set your headlights from high to low a few times to alert the other driver of your intentions.
Oh, and get used to other cars overtaking you in Belize – many locals do not adhere to the speed limit!
The highways in Belize are one lane only.
Belize road conditions
We were pleasantly surprised by the road conditions in Belize. The highways are well-maintained, smooth and well-paved. The only time a 4×4 is needed is if you decide to go off-road, for example in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve.
GPS and navigation in Belize
Unfortunately, there is a lack of road signs in Belize. Most roads are not clearly marked, and it’s can be easy to get lost if you leave one of the main four highways.
To avoid this, use a GPS device. If you are using your phone, be sure to pack a hands-free holder for your rental car. Not many cars will provide this for you, making it close to impossible to follow tricky directions.
You can also rent a GPS device from your car rental company.
BACKPACKING BELIZE? You might also like my detailed guides on San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, and my overall guide to backpacking Belize!
Emergency numbers in Belize
If you do need any emergency numbers whilst driving in Belize, they are:
- 911: police
- 90: ambulance and fire department
Road signs whilst driving in Belize
Road signs in Belize are in English. Most road signs are easy to understand (and the majority are about animal crossings).
Speed limits are miles per hour.
Wildlife on the roads in Belize
Belize is one of the best countries I have travelled to in regards to wildlife. There is quite literally wildlife everywhere you look. From tapirs, gibnuts, monkeys, chickens, peacocks and even jaguars (although, that’s a rarer sight), it is important to note that wildlife is on the road in Belize (at any time of the day).
If it’s an exceptionally common ‘animal crossing’, there may be a sign to warn you. But just bear it in mind when you are driving on roads like the Hummingbird Highway – it’s likely you will need to stop for wildlife at some point!
Driving in Belize: FAQs
Is it safe to drive in Belize?
Yes, it is safe to drive in Belize. Many tourists and backpackers from Europe and the US hire a car to travel around Belize and get ‘off the beaten track’.
Do I need a car to travel around Belize?
No, you can use shuttles or public transport to get around Belize. Hiring a car in Belize is down to personal preference.
Can I drive at night in Belize?
You can drive at night in Belize, but it is not recommended. Especially on rural roads – there may be a dangerous pothole or animal in the road, and it is much harder to see. Driving in places like Belize City at night can also be unsafe.
Signal on the roads is also intermittent. There were periods when we were driving without any data or wifi whatsoever. If you are driving on these roads at night and something goes wrong with your vehicle, you could be spending the night in the jungle! I do not recommend driving at night in Belize.
Crazy story – one evening, our taxi driver in San Ignacio told us about the haunted past on some of the roads in Belize. He explained most locals don’t even like driving at night, due to spooky folklore tales and stories of ghosts and spirits roaming the roads.
Plus, most of the roads in Belize are not well-lit, so this wasn’t something we wanted to try for ourselves! Of course, this is down to you whether you believe or not – but we didn’t want to risk it!
Does Belize drive on the left?
No, Belize drives on the right-hand side of the road.
Is driving in Belize difficult?
No, driving in Belize is safe, easy and straightforward. Sometimes there may be the occasional pot hole in the rural areas, but in general, driving in Belize is similar to driving in the UK or the US (with way less cars and traffic).
Other Central American backpacking locations
If you’re backpacking Central America, go you! It’s such an incredible part of the world to travel, and I’m so glad you’re here, reading this and considering it.
Not sure what route to take? You’re in the right place! This blog is full of Central America backpacking advice.
If you’re not sure what other countries to visit in Central America, this is the most common route backpackers take:
- Mexico
- Belize
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama (ending with the San Blas Island trip to Colombia)
How long you stay in each location is down to you, but if you need more information about any of these locations, sign up to my newsletter and keep an eye on the blog for when they’re published!
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about driving in Belize!
When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below. I’d love to know about your experience in Belize and if you found it as special as I did!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write informative and honest posts directly aimed at backpackers. Researching and planning your trip whilst backpacking can be so overwhelming, so I’m here to make it as easy as possible!
I’m currently backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Belize content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other Belize posts:
- Backpacking San Ignacio: COMPLETE Guide! 2023
- Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: BEST Company in 2023!
- Best Hostels In Caye Caulker For Backpackers (2023)
- Backpacking Caye Caulker: Everything You Need To Know (2023)
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
