Is the United States a left-hand-drive country?

Yes. The United States is a left-hand-drive country: most vehicles have the steering wheel on the left, and traffic keeps to the right side of the road. This standard applies across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with a notable traffic-direction exception in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where vehicles typically remain left-hand-drive but traffic moves on the left. Understanding the distinction between which side the steering wheel is on and which side of the road traffic uses helps clarify how the U.S. fits into global driving norms.

What “left-hand drive” means, and how it differs from traffic side

Left-hand drive (LHD) refers to the steering wheel being on the left side of the vehicle. This is different from traffic rules: right-hand traffic (RHT) means cars drive on the right side of the road, while left-hand traffic (LHT) means they drive on the left. The United States is predominantly LHD and RHT, a pairing common in the Americas and much of continental Europe.

How the U.S. drives today

Mainland states and Washington, D.C.

All 50 states and Washington, D.C., drive on the right and overwhelmingly use left-hand-drive vehicles. This is the standard seen in passenger cars, commercial trucks, buses, and most government fleets.

U.S. territories and notable variations

The traffic side in U.S. territories generally mirrors the mainland, with one important exception. The following summary outlines how each major territory handles both traffic direction and typical vehicle configuration.

• Puerto Rico — Drives on the right (RHT); vehicles are predominantly LHD.
• Guam — Drives on the right (RHT); vehicles are predominantly LHD, though some right-hand-drive imports exist.
• Northern Mariana Islands — Drives on the right (RHT); vehicles are mostly LHD.
• American Samoa — Drives on the right (RHT); vehicles are mostly LHD.
• U.S. Virgin Islands — Drives on the left (LHT); however, most vehicles are still LHD due to imports from the mainland, creating the unusual combination of left-side traffic with left-hand-drive cars.

In practical terms, travelers will find the U.S. standard consistent—LHD vehicles on right-side roads—everywhere except the U.S. Virgin Islands, where the road position flips but most cars remain LHD.

Why the U.S. standardized on LHD and right-side driving

The U.S. settled on right-hand traffic during the 19th and early 20th centuries, influenced by wagon practices and later cemented by the automotive boom. Ford’s Model T, introduced with left-hand drive in the early 1900s, hastened nationwide adoption of LHD, improving driver visibility of oncoming traffic and facilitating safer passing on the left. By the 1920s–1930s, right-side driving with LHD vehicles was the norm across the country.

Special cases you might see on U.S. roads

Right-hand-drive vehicles do exist in the United States, but they are exceptions rather than the rule. Rural postal carriers commonly use RHD delivery vehicles for curbside mailbox access, and some RHD imports and collector cars are legal under specific federal import and safety regulations. Despite these niche cases, the standard configuration for U.S. drivers remains LHD on right-side roads.

Summary

The United States is a left-hand-drive country that drives on the right. This standard covers all states and most territories; the principal exception is the U.S. Virgin Islands, which drives on the left while still using mostly left-hand-drive vehicles. For everyday driving across the U.S., expect the steering wheel on the left and traffic on the right.

Which country is left-hand drive?

Some other countries chose the left-hand side of the road. These countries include: Japan, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Mozambique, Suriname, East Timor, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and more. Today, only four European countries drive on the left-hand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus.

Is the USA left or right-hand drive?

The USA is a right-hand drive country, meaning traffic moves on the right side of the road, and the steering wheel is located on the left side of vehicles. This custom was established through the practice of horse-drawn wagon drivers riding the left rear horse to better observe the ditch on the road’s right side.
 
Why the USA drives on the right

• Historical Practice: Right-hand travel was predominant in colonial America, with evidence suggesting it was established by the time of early settlements. 
• Vehicle Design: Early horse-drawn wagons required drivers to control horses from the left rear wheel, making it easier to see the right side of the road. 
• Safety: This position allowed drivers to better monitor the space along the road’s edge and handle the whip to guide the horses. 

Left-Hand Drive vs. Right-Hand Drive

• Right-Hand Traffic: In right-hand traffic countries, the steering wheel is on the left side of the car. 
• Left-Hand Traffic: In left-hand traffic countries, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. 
• Global Practice: While the USA drives on the right, about 75% of the world drives on the right, with most of the remaining 25% driving on the left. 

Is America the only country with left-hand drive?

Around 64 countries drive on the left-hand side of the road while the rest of the world drives on the right. In Europe, very few countries drive on the left like we do. These are The Channel Islands, Cyprus, Ireland, the Isle of Man and Malta.

On which side is the steering wheel in the USA?

left
If you have not yet guessed what exactly we are talking about, it is the fact that Indian vehicles have their steering wheel on the right side of the car while American vehicles have it on the left.