Hiring a car in Guam is easy once you are ready for three changes: traffic keeps right and the driver sits on the left, your home licence is accepted only for a set period and only from certain countries, and road signs and fuel pumps use miles and US gallons. Locals say “car rental” or “rental car”, but it is exactly what you know as car hire.
- Driving side: Traffic keeps right, and the driver sits on the left.
- Licences: A valid licence from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Canada or an EU country is accepted for 30 days after you land. A licence from a US state, territory or commonwealth is accepted for 90 days.
- Licences from other places: Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and other places are not on Guam’s list. Confirm with the rental office before you book.
- What to bring: Your original licence, your passport and a credit card. The cars on this site take Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and Discover.
- Units: Speed limits are in mph, with 45 mph (about 72 km/h) the top limit anywhere on the island. Fuel is priced per US gallon (about 3.8 litres).
Information checked on October 29, 2026.
Can you drive in Guam with an Australian, New Zealand or Asian licence?
That depends on which country issued it. Guam’s licence law, 16 GCA §3101, names the places whose licences visitors can use and sets a time limit for each group.
| Licence issued in | Driving allowed in Guam |
|---|---|
| Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Canada, any EU country, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands | 30 days from your arrival date |
| A US state, territory or commonwealth | 90 days from your arrival date |
| Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, Malaysia, Thailand and anywhere else not named | No period is set in the law. Check with the rental office and Guam’s Department of Revenue and Taxation (DRT) before you book |
If your licence is from a place that is not on the list, get the rental office’s answer in writing before you travel, including whether it wants any extra document.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not needed with a licence from the listed countries, and it never stands in for the licence itself. Pack the original card even if you carry an IDP. The site’s International Driving Permit FAQ has the details.
Planning more than 30 days at the wheel? You can apply to register your licence with the DRT for a fee of up to $25. If approved, you can keep driving until one year after you arrived or until your licence expires, whichever is sooner. The DRT can refuse registration, for example if it cannot verify the licence.
What do Guam rental companies call things?
Guam speaks American English, so a few everyday car words change. Use this table when you read the rental agreement or talk to the counter staff.
| If you say | In Guam you’ll hear |
|---|---|
| Car hire / hire car | Car rental / rental car |
| Petrol | Gas |
| Petrol station / servo | Gas station |
| Excess | Deductible |
| Boot | Trunk |
| Bonnet | Hood |
| Indicator | Turn signal (or blinker) |
| Car park | Parking lot |
| Give way | Yield |
| Footpath | Sidewalk |
| Pedestrian crossing | Crosswalk |
| Motorway / freeway | Highway (main roads are numbered, such as Route 1, Marine Corps Drive) |
“Excess” is the one to get right. On the cars booked through this site, the optional collision damage waiver (CDW) has a deductible: the share of a repair bill you pay before the waiver covers the rest. It also applies only to certain kinds of accident. The insurance and coverage page lists the deductible, the limits and the exclusions for each option.
Driving on the right when you’re used to the left
If you drive on the left at home, the first hour is when mistakes happen, mostly at intersections and when you pull out of a parking lot. Keep these points in mind.
- Driver’s side next to the centre line. You sit on the left, and the centre line of the road should be on your left. If the kerb is right beside your door, you may be on the wrong side.
- Left turns cut across oncoming traffic. Wait for a clear gap, then finish the turn on the right-hand side of the new road. On right turns, keep close to the right edge and watch for people crossing.
- Right on red, after a full stop. You may turn right at a red light once you have stopped and given way to pedestrians and other traffic, unless a sign forbids it.
- The centre lane is not a through lane. On many main roads, the middle lane is where drivers wait to turn left. Don’t cruise along it, and follow the signs and road markings.
- Find the controls before you move. Turn signal and wiper stalks may sit on the opposite side from your car at home. Take a minute in the parking lot to try the lights, wipers and mirrors.
- Short first drive, in daylight. Get used to the car on a loop around Tumon before you head out on longer trips or drive after dark.
Every car you can book on this site is an automatic, so you won’t have to change gears with your other hand. For school bus stops, phone rules and the rest, read the traffic rules page.
Miles, gallons and dollars: quick conversions
Guam uses US units. Signs show distances in miles and speed limits in mph, and pumps price gas per US gallon.
| On the sign or pump | Roughly |
|---|---|
| 45 mph (top limit on the island) | 72 km/h |
| 35 mph | 56 km/h |
| 25 mph | 40 km/h |
| 1 mile | 1.6 km |
| 1 US gallon | 3.8 litres |
Everything is priced in US dollars. To compare a pump price with home, divide the price per gallon by 3.8 to get a price per litre.
How to book and pick up your car
This site compares rental companies in Guam and lets you book online. For the cars booked here, the pickup works like this.
- Pay by credit card in Guam. The office takes Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club or Discover; it does not take debit, prepaid, AMEX or JCB cards. Use the main driver’s own card. If the driver has no credit card, someone else can pay with theirs, but an extra driver fee is added. See payment methods.
- Passport. Visitors show a passport or a copy. When someone other than the driver pays, both of you bring a passport.
- Every driver on the agreement. Anyone who will take a turn driving must be registered. An accident by an unregistered driver is not covered.
- The car is handed over at the office, not at your hotel. If you are staying at a listed hotel in Tumon, a free shuttle collects you from the lobby and brings you to the rental office. From the airport there is no pickup, so take a taxi (about 10 minutes). Check in at the office counter and drive off from there. Once the car is back at the office, the free shuttle drops you at the airport or your hotel.
The pre-booking checklist covers the deposit, cancellation and the full hotel list. Still sorting out your arrival? Read the Guam entry guide.
FAQ
Can I use my Australian licence in Guam?
Yes. A valid Australian licence lets you drive for 30 days from the day you arrive, and no International Driving Permit is required with it. Bring the original card. For a longer stay, register it with the DRT or apply for a Guam licence.
What if my licence is from a country not on the list?
Guam’s licence law sets no driving period for it. Before you book, ask the rental office whether it will rent to you on that licence and what else it needs, and check with the DRT.
Is it hard to drive on the right in Guam?
It takes some care at first if you normally drive on the left. Speeds are modest, with 45 mph the top limit and lower limits on many roads. Be most careful when turning left, joining traffic and leaving parking lots.
Is an International Driving Permit required in Guam?
Not with a licence from one of the listed countries. An IDP does not replace your licence, so always bring the original. If your licence is from somewhere not on the list, ask the rental office what it accepts before you travel.
Are rental cars in Guam automatic?
Yes. Every car class you can book on this site, from economy cars to the pickup truck, has an automatic gearbox.
Can someone else drive the car?
Yes, if they are registered as an additional driver when you pick up the car and hold a valid licence that Guam accepts.
Compare car hire in Guam
Once your licence and card are sorted, enter your dates in the booking box below to compare cars and prices from the rental companies on this site.
