Driving in Guernsey
Driving in Guernsey is a little different from driving elsewhere. The speed limit is 35 miles per hour, with more heavily populated zones restricted to 25 miles per hour. Smaller lanes (known locally as “ruettes tranquilles”) are restricted to a limit of 15 miles per hour with priority given to pedestrians, cyclists, horse-riders etc.
Given the narrowness of some of the roads it is often necessary to drive even slower than this. You will often find, too, that you will be forced to reverse to a wider point in the road or pull into a driveway in order to let another vehicle pass.
There are a number of differences between the roads in the UK and the Channel Islands:
Filter In Turn
Some junctions have FILTER IN TURN on signposts and warnings painted on the road. At these junctions traffic from all directions has EQUAL PRIORITY. You must only enter the junction IN TURN with other vehicles. They are also box junctions, so you must not enter the box unless your exit is clear.
Yellow Lines
A wide yellow line painted across the exit means STOP and give way to traffic on the “main road”. Yellow arrows painted on the road give warning of a wide yellow line ahead. Yellow lines painted along the roadside mean that vehicles cannot park, wait nor be left unattended at ANY time.
Driving On Pavements
Vehicles are permitted to mount and drive along the pavements to avoid other traffic.
Highway Code
The differences between Guernsey and on the mainland can be found here.
Parking
All public parking in Guernsey is FREE. However, at car parks marked DISC ZONE you must use a Parking Clock to indicate your time of arrival. It is an offence to set a parking clock at an incorrect time of arrival, to fail to set your clock, to reset your clock without moving your vehicle, or to overstay the time limit of that zone.
You must not park for longer than the specified time period unless that period ends after 6pm, in which case you may park until 8am the following morning. Zones are found in various time limits, from half-hour slots to ten-hour time limits, and time limits are in effect from 8am to 6pm.
Parking Clocks
can be bought from the Environment Department's office, the Guernsey Information Centre, the Police Station, garages, and various retail outlets.
Sundays And Bank Holidays
Parking time is not limited on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Therefore, if your time limit period ends after 6pm on the Saturday you can remain parked until 8am on the following Monday morning, or in the case of a Bank Holiday you do not have to move your vehicle until 8am on the Tuesday morning.
Parking For Motorcycles
Motorcycles cannot be parked in a disc parking zone. They can, however, park in approved parking areas, or any designated motorcycle park, for a period not exceeding 23 hours. A map of the locations of motorcycle parking bays can be found on the States of Guernsey website.
Residents Parking
Residents Parking Permits are available for those residents of disc parking zones. These permits allow for vehicles to be parked overnight until 9.30am the following morning. Further details of the scheme and how to apply can be found on the States of Guernsey website.
Disabled Parking
A Disabled Badge Scheme is operated by the Environment Department of The States of Guernsey. The Badge permits the disabled driver to park for up to two hours in half-hour and one-hour disc parking zones, and to use disabled parking spaces for unlimited periods. Badge holders must obey all other parking regulations, and may not park on yellow lines. Locations of these spaces and details of how to apply for a badge can be found on the States of Guernsey website.
Small Car Parking
A relatively recent introduction to Guernsey is parking areas for 'small' cars. These are cars that are less than 3.6 metres long. Details of the scheme and examples of the types of vehicle that are entitled to use the bays can be found on the States of Guernsey website.
Car Hire
Should you wish to hire a car in Guernsey you will find agents at both at the harbour and the airport. However, most companies have a presence online, so it’s worth checking where they are based and their rates before travelling.
In order to hire a car in Guernsey you must be insured and have a full driving licence. If you have a photo card licence you must also produce the paper document. Please note that if you have any serious endorsements on your licence this may affect your right to hire a car and therefore you should check with your hire company in advance.
In addition, do bear in mind that it’s not possible to take rental cars off the island so if you intend to island hop you must hire a vehicle on the island you are visiting. Do check with your hire company if they have any further restrictions that you should honour before travelling.
