Vanuatu Car Hire & Driving Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Do we recommend hiring a car in Vanuatu? Yes!

If you're planning to explore beyond Port Vila, having your own car is one of the best ways to experience Efate. We found the roads surprisingly quiet once we left the capital, making it an easy country to drive around. Having our own vehicle gave us the freedom to stop at hidden beaches & rock pools whenever we liked.

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Do You Need a Hire Car in Vanuatu?

It depends…. If you're only staying a day or 2 around Port Vila, taxis and organised tours can work well. However, if you plan to explore Efate over 2 or 3 days as a family, or with a group of friends, we'd definitely recommend hiring a car.

We hired a car for our trip and loved having the freedom to explore Efate at our own pace. Instead of sticking to a tour schedule, we could spend as long as we liked at each stop, visit beaches and the Blue Lagoon when they were quieter. For us, it was also a great way to experience the real Vanuatu. As you drive around the island, you'll pass local villages, children waving from the roadside, roadside fruit stalls and beautiful stretches of coastline that you simply wouldn't see if you stayed around the resorts. It was one of the best ways to slow down, take in island life and experience a different side of Efate.

🚗 Hire Car

Perfect if you want flexibility and plan to explore the island over two or three days. Car hire in Vanuatu is generally affordable, and we found it worked out better value than paying for taxis every day.

🚕 Taxi

Taxis are a good option for getting around Port Vila or travelling short distances. However, if you're planning to visit a different attraction each day, the cost can add up quickly. For price range, a 15 minute taxi ride from the Airport to a hotel Port Vila is approx 2,500 Vatu.

🚌 Local Buses

Local buses are the cheapest way to get around, but during our visit they didn't seem particularly regular, especially once we were outside Port Vila.

🏝️ Organised Tours

There are plenty of excellent day tours that visit many of Efate's most popular attractions. They're a great choice if you don't want to drive, although you'll be following the tour's schedule rather than exploring at your own pace.

Our recommendation: If your budget allows, we'd hire a car. You can comfortably see many of Efate's highlights over 2 or 3 days, with the flexibility to stop whenever something catches your eye.

Looking for a hire car in Vanuatu? Compare prices and book your hire car here.

Is Driving in Vanuatu Easy?

Yes! We actually found driving in Vanuatu much easier than we expected.

Once we left Port Vila, there was very little traffic on the road. Most of the time we only passed a handful of other cars, making it a relaxed place to drive compared to other destinations.

One thing to remember is that in Vanuatu you drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Getting around Efate is also very straightforward. There's essentially one main road that loops around the island, known as Ring Road. Along the way you'll find beautiful beaches, amazing rock pools, local villages, small resorts and family-run accommodation.

Road Conditions in Vanuatu

The roads around Efate are generally easy to drive, but they're not perfect. Expect plenty of potholes, particularly on the east coast, so allow extra time for your journey and don't expect to drive at Australian highway speeds.  The speed limit is 30 km/h through towns and villages, so be sure to slow down and keep an eye out for pedestrians and children. On the rural sections of Ring Road, the speed limit increases to 80 km/h.

We found that Google Maps and Maps.me aren't always reliable in Vanuatu, so don't be surprised if they occasionally lead you the wrong way. If you do get lost or have trouble finding your destination, don't stress—locals are incredibly friendly and are always happy to point you in the right direction.

Should You Hire a 2WD or 4WD?

We hired a standard 2WD and had no problems reaching all the attractions on our itinerary, including beaches, the Blue Lagoon and accommodation around Efate. Unless you're planning to head well off the beaten track, a 2WD is more than adequate for most travellers.

How Much Does Car Hire Cost in Vanuatu?

We booked our hire car through Booking.com because it offered the best price, approx $100AUD a day. You can compare the latest prices and availability here.

If you're planning to explore Efate over 2 or 3 days, hiring a car can often work out better value than relying on taxis.

Our tip: Book your hire car before arriving in Vanuatu, especially during school holidays and the busy dry season, as availability can be limited.

Our Tips for Driving in Vanuatu

• Download Google Maps and Maps.me before you leave. They're useful as a rough guide to most resorts and main attractions.

• Fill up your fuel tank before leaving Port Vila. Petrol stations become much less frequent once you're exploring the rest of Efate.

• Keep an eye out for potholes. Some are much bigger than they appear, so take your time.

• Slow down through villages. The speed limit is 30 km/h, and you'll often see children and locals walking along the roadside.

• Expect to pay for parking at many beaches. Most charge around 1,000 Vatu per vehicle, but there's no time limit, so you can stay and enjoy the beach for as long as you like.

• Avoid driving after dark if possible. Many roads aren't well lit, making potholes and pedestrians much harder to see.

• Carry some cash. It's handy for beach parking, buying fresh coconuts, fruit and snacks from roadside stalls and most small business don't accept cards.

• Don't Forget Travel Insurance. We use World Nomads for many of our family adventures because it can cover a range of unexpected travel mishaps. You can get a quote here. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

  
  

Is It Worth Hiring a Car?

Overall, if you're a confident driver, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend hiring a car in Vanuatu. It gave us the freedom to explore Efate at our own pace, stop whenever we spotted a beautiful beach and discover places we otherwise would have missed. For us, it was one of the best decisions we made during our trip.

Planning your Vanuatu trip?

🏝️ Read our 7-Day Vanuatu Itinerary - From swimming in crystal-clear blue holes to relaxing on hidden beaches and exploring local villages, discover our favourite experiences across Vanuatu.

🐠 Best things to do in Vanuatu - from crystal-clear blue holes and hidden beaches to snorkelling spots and a few lesser-known gems around Efate.

🧳Need somewhere to stay? Browse hotels, apartments and beachfront resorts across Efate and Port Vila here.

🌴 Best South Pacific Islands for Families - Not sure if Vanuatu is the right destination? We've compared Vanuatu with Fiji, the Cook Islands, New Caledonia and French Polynesia to help you choose the perfect South Pacific holiday.

Let's Connect

I hope this guide helps you plan your Vanuatu adventure! If you have any questions about driving in Vanuatu, feel free to leave a comment below—we're always happy to help. Or come say hello on Instagram @wanderers_at_heart, where we share our latest adventures, honest travel tips & plenty of travel inspiration.