Aruba is a small Caribbean island best known for its natural sights created by the arid climate of this island. The best of the sights are situated on the north šide of the island, and many are accessible by dirt roads.
The most suitable vehicles for these roads are off-road vehicles, which may make you wonder can you use them in other parts of Aruba?
Are ATVs street legal in Aruba? Yes, ATVs are completely road legal in Aruba. They are treated like any other road-going vehicle, meaning that they need a registration and license plates to be allowed on the roads.
But, let’s get into more of the details, and why you might have been led to think differently about the legality of ATVs on Arubian streets.
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Are ATVs street legal in Aruba?
In recent times, there has been much written on various blogs and forums that the ATVs, and more broadly all UTVs, were banned from the streets in Aruba. But that is not true.
UTVs and ATVs are not banned in Aruba. And are still street-legal, meaning that you can ride them both off and on the road. Which doesn’t mean that certain limits were not imposed on their use.
Since June 2020 ATVs are banned from Aruba’s national parks and protected areas. As these compose roughly 20% of this island’s area, it means that ATVs are allowed on the other 80% And that includes both the dirt track and the paved and regulated roads.
Do you need a driver’s license to drive an ATV in Aruba?
ATVs and other off-road vehicles are regulated in Aruba just like all other passenger cars, motorcycles, or trucks. They have to be registered but also can be operated only by a person with a valid driver’s license.
If you are planning to ride an ATV in Aruba, you should have a valid license and have it always on you. It is also recommended that you also carry your passport with you.
The minimum driving age in Aruba is 18 years, so if you are coming from states that have the minimum age of 16, your driver’s license will not be considered valid.
This also applies to learner’s permits, that some states issue to 14 and 15-year-olds. Only holders of full licenses that are 18 or more years of age are allowed to operate motor vehicles in Aruba.
Do I need an International driver’s license to drive an ATV in Aruba?
International Driving Permit (IDP) and Inter-America Driving Permit (IADP) are required in many countries, and Aruba falls among them.
But this requirement is only valid if your driver’s license is not printed in Latin script.
As both IADP and IDP are just English translations of driver’s licenses, their holder should also have their driver’s license from the country of origin with them at all times.
Because DMV-issued driver’s licenses are already in Latin script and English language, they are valid in Aruba. But only if the driver is 18 years or older.
Younger drivers, even if they are holders of valid state-issued driver’s licenses are not allowed to operate vehicles.
Are ATVs allowed everywhere in Aruba?
Large parts of the Aruba island are covered in rough terrain, owning to its arid climate. And going through them are just dirt tracks and roads.
This is why most of the island is the easiest to reach by an off-road vehicle. And why in the past ATVs and similar vehicles were allowed everywhere on the island.
Currently, they are allowed on all public roads and streets. As the speed limits rarely exceed 37mph (60km/h), there are not many roads where ATVs can’t reach the speeds of the rest of the traffic.
But, in the past many reckless drivers have inflicted damage to the nature of national parks and other protected areas. Which led to a ban of ATVs, and limiting the number of UTVs that can be in the park at any time.
If you plan to visit Arikok National Park or sand dunes in the north of the island, you should be aware that you will not be able to ride an ATV there.
Are there rental companies for ATVs in Aruba?
There are many rental companies that offer both ATVs and UTVs for rental. And you can rent them both on their own, or as a part of guided tours.
To rent an ATV or any other vehicle, per most widespread rental policies, you need to be 25 years of age or older and have a valid US driver’s license.
Some of the rental companies do rent to younger people, but the usual age limit is 21, and people of age 21-24 generally have to pay an additional fee. Very rarely, some companies will accept renting a scooter or an ATV to people that are 18 years of age.
Read also: Are ATVs Street Legal in Arizona? (OHV Laws To Know!)
Conclusion
In recent years, there have been many rumors circulating around the Internet about the ban on ATVs in Aruba. With many people claiming that ATVs were made illegal in the whole of this island.
In truth, no such thing was done. ATVs are still street legal in Aruba and should remain in foreseeable future.
But, ATVs are no longer allowed in the national parks, as a measure of environmental protection, as in the past many reckless drivers have inflicted irreparable damage to its plants and landscape.
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