Eleuthera Rental Cars

With very little public transportation to speak of on Eleuthera, tourists who would like to explore the island will have to rely on rental cars to get around. The number of rental car agencies on the island are few, and locals will often try and rent out their own vehicles, so it is important to always make sure you are renting with a government licensed facility.

Renting a Car

The best way to be sure that you're renting a vehicle from a government sanctioned locale, your best bet is to rent from an agency at one of the island's three airports (click here for Eleuthera's air travel page). Regardless of where you rent from, you'll generally find the process to be informal, with the simple exchange of payment for car keys. Always ask for a receipt, because you likely won't be given one otherwise.

Make sure to call before your vacation and reserve your vehicle of choice to ensure that it is available to you when you arrive. Also notice that there are no large international chains, because all of the agencies on the island are locally-owned.

Check out the table below which shows a few of the area rental agencies.

Driving on Eleuthera Island

The most important thing to remember as you're driving around on Eleuthera is that traffic moves on the left side of the road like in England, though the steering wheel is generally located on the left side of the vehicle as in the United States. This means that everyone who gets behind the wheel will likely have some adjusting to do. The roads are not kept in the best condition, so you can expect to run into pot holes and cracks regularly. Be sure to proceed with caution until you are more familiar with the driving style and road conditions.

Queen's Highway is the one main road on Eleuthera , and it travels the length of the island with just two lanes at all times and with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Some of the side roads are paved, but most are made of dirt, gravel, and sand, and should only be driven on if you've got a vehicle with four wheel drive. Gas is nearly double the price of gas in the United States, so make sure you leave room in your budget for the extra expense.

The Cost of Renting a Car

Vehicles on this island are almost always at least 10 years old and cost between $50 and $75(USD) a day. Discounts may be available if you rent for longer than one week.

Different firms sometimes charge very different rates so it pays to contact several firms. The low rates in the tables only apply to the least expensive agencies when plenty of cars are on hand. The high rates are what you should anticipate when demand is at its peak.

Renting a car on Eleuthera isn't difficult, and though the roads can be a little tricky to manage, you should become adept at navigating through the bad parts quickly. This will allow you to make the most of your getaway by spending your vacation exploring one the Bahamas most beautiful islands.

Even though you shouldn't have any difficulties spotting places to refuel, it is still helpful to check out the chart just below to get an idea where some can be found.