The short answer: for travel between towns, take the Knutsford Express coach. For shorter trips, use licensed taxis with red plates and agree the fare before you get in. Hire a car only if you’re comfortable driving on the left on narrow, winding roads.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Knutsford Express coach | Town to town: Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril, the south coast | Air-conditioned, scheduled, book online. Cheaper than a private driver. |
| Licensed taxi (red PP or PPV plate) | Airport transfers, evenings, short trips | Not metered, so agree the price first. Hotel taxis usually cost more. |
| JUTA tourist taxis and tours | Booked transfers and day trips | The official tourist carrier. Book through your hotel or directly. |
| Route taxi | Short local trips, like a Jamaican | Shared, cheap and often unmarked. Say clearly you don’t want to charter the whole car. |
| Minibuses and buses | Budget travel | No timetables, crowded, little service on Sundays. Pay the conductor on board. |
| Rental car | Exploring at your own pace | See “Driving yourself” below. |
Coaches: the Knutsford Express
- Runs along the north coast (Kingston, Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Montego Bay, Negril) and the south coast (Kingston, Mandeville, Savanna-la-Mar, Negril).
- Book on knutsfordexpress.com. Buying in advance is usually cheaper.
- Arrive early. Coaches leave on time.
Taxis
- Only use licensed taxis. They have red number plates marked PP or PPV. Unlicensed taxis may have no insurance.
- Agree the fare first, in US or Jamaican dollars, and confirm whether it’s per person or per car.
- Expect fares to be higher late at night.
Driving yourself
- Drive on the left. Most cars are right-hand drive.
- Your licence: bring the physical card, as copies aren’t accepted. A licence in English usually needs no International Driving Permit. How long you can use it depends on where it was issued, so check with your rental company. An International Driving Permit is a cheap safeguard.
- Age: most rental companies want drivers aged 23 to 25 or older. Ask before you book.
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on main roads, up to 110 km/h on parts of the new highways. Police use radar and roadblocks.
- Seat belts are compulsory in front and back. Using a phone without hands-free is illegal.
- Toll roads link Kingston with the north coast and Montego Bay. They are fast and smooth. Keep some cash for tolls.
- Country roads can be narrow, potholed and winding. Watch for animals, overtaking cars and undipped headlights at night. Avoid long drives after dark if you can.
How long things take
| Route | Time by road |
|---|---|
| Montego Bay airport to Negril | about 1½ hours |
| Montego Bay to Ocho Rios | about 1½–2 hours |
| Kingston to Ocho Rios | about 1½ hours |
| Kingston to Port Antonio | about 2 hours |
| Kingston to Montego Bay | about 3–4 hours |
Plan for one or two bases rather than changing hotels every night. The island is bigger than it looks on a map.
Last checked: 3 November 2026. Sources: Visit Jamaica: renting a car · Rough Guides: getting around Jamaica · Knutsford Express.