Many visitors to St. Lucia, when considering a car rental, consider the Local permit to be ‘just another’ addition to the cost. However, obtaining a Local permit is very important. Here’s why:

If you already possess an international driving permit, you will need to have it stamped at either the Hewanorra International Airport.

A local permit is a document that issued by the Government of St. Lucia and stamped by the Licensing Authority. This allows an international driver with a valid driver’s license, to legally drive on the island for the duration of their stay (even if you only intend to do so for a day or two). The permit is valid for three months.

You can visit the immigration station at either airport or utilize the services offered by police stations. Your rental company can also provide you with the temporary permit. The cost is $20 USD or $54 EC. However, some rental companies include their tax as part of the cost of the permit (US$2- US$3)..

If you already possess an international driving permit, you will need to have it stamped at either the Hewanorra International Airport on the southern end of the island or the George F.L. Charles Airport, located in Vigie, Castries..

- An International Driving Permit (IDP) contains your name, driver information and photo. It's a valid form of identification in over 150 countries. It translates a U.S. driver's license into 10 languages and helps minimize language barriers when you're driving in another country. The IDP does not replace a driver’s license. You will still require a valid driver's license to drive in a foreign country.

- An "international driver's license" (IDL) is generally seen as a worthless document. The name "international driver's license" is misleading because the document does not grant driving privileges nor is it a substitute for a valid U.S. driver's license. An IDL might also be referred to as an International Driver's Document (IDD).

- IDLs are often sold via email, websites or in-person and can cost around $25 to $100. They offer similar information as IDPs, such as translating license information to other languages, but many countries do not recognize an IDL as an acceptable document for driving. It can be used as a replacement for the local permit in St. Lucia. However, you still need to provide proof of a valid driver’s license.