Last updated: September 2026
There are no rental cars on Elbow Cay, so nearly every visitor rents a golf cart for the week. Several island companies deliver carts to the ferry dock or your rental house; book two to four weeks ahead in winter and spring. Carts are not allowed in the historic centre of Hope Town, which is walking and bicycle only.
Why you need a golf cart on Elbow Cay
Elbow Cay is about five miles long, and the places you want to reach are spread along it: the ferry dock and shops in Hope Town at the north end, the beaches and restaurants around White Sound in the middle, and Tahiti Beach at the southern tip. A cart turns those into five- to fifteen-minute hops. Without one you are walking, cycling, or relying on the occasional taxi.
Who rents golf carts on Elbow Cay
These are the established rental companies on the island. Phone numbers and websites for each are kept current in our local business directory.
- Island Cart Rentals
- Getaway Golf Carts
- Hope Town Cart Rentals
- Elbow Cay Cart Rentals
- Big Hill Golf Cart Rentals
- Low Cay Cart Rentals
- Ocean Waves Cart Rental
- Loyalist Living Cart Rentals
How booking works
- Reserve by phone or email as soon as your dates are firm. Carts sell out for Christmas, spring break, Easter, and most of March and April.
- Tell the company your ferry arrival time. Most will have the cart waiting at the Hope Town or White Sound dock with the key, or deliver it to the house.
- Ask for the weekly rate. A week is far cheaper than seven daily rentals, and most guests keep the cart for their whole stay.
- Expect to leave a credit card for a security deposit and to return the cart with the same fuel level if it is gas-powered.
Driving rules and etiquette
- Drive on the left. The Bahamas follows British road rules, and the island's narrow roads make this matter.
- Carts are banned in the historic centre of Hope Town. Park at the edge of the settlement and walk in; the lanes are built for feet and bicycles.
- You need a valid driver's licence from home to rent and drive a cart. Children may ride but not drive.
- Slow down around the settlement, schools, and dogs, and pull over for the utility trucks and service vehicles that residents rely on.
- Use headlights after dark and keep to the marked roads; the sandy tracks to the beaches can strand a cart.
Alternatives to a golf cart
Bicycles are a good complement, especially for popping into Hope Town where carts cannot go. Hope Town Canvas and A & S rent bikes and paddleboards. For anything off-island, a rental boat is the true car of the Abacos: it takes you to Tahiti Beach, the lighthouse dock, Man-O-War Cay, and Great Guana Cay in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you rent a car on Elbow Cay?
- No. There are no rental cars for visitors on Elbow Cay. Golf carts are the standard way to get around, with bicycles and boats as alternatives.
- How far in advance should I book a golf cart in Hope Town?
- Two to four weeks ahead in high season (December through April), and earlier for Christmas and spring break. In summer and autumn a week's notice is usually enough.
- Can you drive a golf cart in Hope Town village?
- Not in the historic centre. Golf carts are prohibited in the core of the settlement, which is limited to walking and bicycles. Park at the edge of town and walk in.
- Do I need a driver's licence to rent a golf cart on Elbow Cay?
- Yes. Rental companies require a valid driver's licence from your home country, and drivers must be adults.
