Do I need to own a car in Ambergris Caye?
Christian Burn
There are cars on Ambergris Caye; they're just very controlled and the government is very strict with who is allowed to have a car. As an expat, you will never be given a permit to have a car on Ambergris Caye. You can have a golf cart but not a car. They will not let you. However, if you live on the mainland, you can go easily buy a car and have it licensed. You just cannot physically bring that car to Ambergris Caye. They are trying to keep the amount of...
There are cars on Ambergris Caye; they're just very controlled and the government is very strict with who is allowed to have a car. As an expat, you will never be given a permit to have a car on Ambergris Caye. You can have a golf cart but not a car. They will not let you. However, if you live on the mainland, you can go easily buy a car and have it licensed. You just cannot physically bring that car to Ambergris Caye. They are trying to keep the amount of cars on the island in check because the cars are obviously much more dangerous to drive. The streets are narrow, some of the roads are sandy and it’s not really a great environment for cars. There is definitely a place for cars, but it is just that they are generally not given to expats. You can get a cab, golf cart, pedal a bike, or walk pretty much anywhere.
If you need to move your fridge, you have to hire a driver that has a pickup truck. Generally if you are buying a brand new fridge, the company has a company car and they deliver the fridge via their company vehicle.
On the mainland of Belize, you would need a car because everything is pretty spread out, as opposed to being a concentrated, small island like Ambergris Caye. On the mainland there are real highways and there are real gas stations. Then there are mountains too.
Posted December 2, 2014
David Drummond - Georgetown Trust
You don’t need to own a car in Ambergris Caye. Typically, people wouldn’t own a car and typically people might own or lease a golf cart. Golf cart rental is as expensive as renting a US car. It will be around US $400 to $500 a month to rent a golf cart. So if you are going to be here for a long time or if you are planning to retire here, you would probably buy a golf cart. New golf cart costs around $15,000 to $25,000, which seems expensive,...
You don’t need to own a car in Ambergris Caye. Typically, people wouldn’t own a car and typically people might own or lease a golf cart. Golf cart rental is as expensive as renting a US car. It will be around US $400 to $500 a month to rent a golf cart. So if you are going to be here for a long time or if you are planning to retire here, you would probably buy a golf cart. New golf cart costs around $15,000 to $25,000, which seems expensive, but there is duty on those things to bring them in. A used golf cart costs around US $7,500 up to around $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the features and the type of parts. If you are thinking of buying, that is the best course of action.
But you want to make sure that you can get a permit for your golf cart. Every golf cart has a requirement to have a permit and only citizens or residents can get permits for golf carts.
On the high end, there are also golf carts here that cost $30,000. They tend to be larger and are four-wheel drive. They are four-wheel drive with some type of storage on the back.
Typically, people do not own cars in Ambergris Caye; they own golf carts. Some people who have been here for a long time or have the need, would have a car. Personally, I have a golf cart. I don’t have a car and I wouldn’t have a car.
(Four wheel drive golf cart, pictured.)
Posted May 6, 2015
Rachel Jensen - Grand Baymen
You don’t’ need to have a car in Ambergris Caye. If you live in the heart of San Pedro (the only real town on the island) and if you live a little bit north or south of San Pedro, you could just get along by walking. If you don’t want to walk, you can get a golf cart or you can bike around. There are not a lot of taxis and the taxis are really cheap so many people prefer taking taxis than to own a golf cart.
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You don’t’ need to have a car in Ambergris Caye. If you live in the heart of San Pedro (the only real town on the island) and if you live a little bit north or south of San Pedro, you could just get along by walking. If you don’t want to walk, you can get a golf cart or you can bike around. There are not a lot of taxis and the taxis are really cheap so many people prefer taking taxis than to own a golf cart.
(Pictured: Monday morning rush hour in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.)
Posted June 17, 2015