Where Right‑Hand‑Drive Cars Are the Norm
Many countries use right-hand-drive (RHD) cars—most places that drive on the left side of the road. Notable examples include the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, India, South Africa, and much of Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, and the Caribbean. RHD vehicles also appear in some right-driving countries via imports or special uses.
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What “right-hand drive” means—and why it varies
In right-hand-drive vehicles, the steering wheel is on the right side of the cabin. This configuration is standard in countries that keep left in traffic (left-hand traffic, or LHT) because it positions the driver closer to the road center for better visibility when passing. Global driving-side rules are historical and regional: former British territories typically keep left, while most of continental Europe and the Americas keep right.
Countries where RHD is standard (they drive on the left)
Europe and the Mediterranean
The following European nations and Crown Dependencies drive on the left, so RHD vehicles are the norm.
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Cyprus
- Malta
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Guernsey
These countries maintain left-hand traffic for historical and practical reasons; as a result, RHD cars are standard across their fleets.
Asia
Much of South and Southeast Asia, plus Japan and certain Chinese special regions, follow left-hand traffic and therefore use RHD vehicles.
- Japan
- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives
- Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste
- Hong Kong and Macau (Special Administrative Regions of China)
From dense megacities to rural networks, these markets are built around RHD vehicles, with regulations, road design, and driver training aligned to left-side traffic.
Africa
Southern and parts of Eastern Africa drive on the left, making RHD standard across the region.
- South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini
- Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique
- Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
- Mauritius, Seychelles
Cross-border connectivity—especially within Southern Africa—reinforces the left-driving ecosystem and RHD vehicle prevalence.
Oceania
Major economies and many island nations in Oceania are left-driving and use RHD vehicles.
- Australia, New Zealand
- Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
- Samoa, Tonga
- Cook Islands, Niue
Australia and New Zealand anchor the region’s RHD standards, with neighboring islands aligning for compatibility and trade.
Americas and the Caribbean
A handful of mainland countries and many Caribbean islands drive on the left, so RHD cars are common.
- Guyana, Suriname
- Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago
- Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda
- Anguilla, Montserrat, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos
- Bermuda, Falkland Islands
While some islands import many left-hand-drive vehicles from nearby right-driving markets, official traffic rules remain left-side, and RHD is the intended standard.
Right-driving countries where RHD cars still appear
Even in countries that drive on the right (where left-hand-drive vehicles are standard), RHD cars can be legal or common due to imports, postal use, or regional market dynamics.
- United States and Canada: RHD vehicles are legal (subject to federal/provincial/state rules). They’re used by rural mail carriers and enthusiasts importing older Japanese models that meet import exemptions.
- Russia: The Far East has many RHD imports from Japan; while Russia drives on the right, a large share of the fleet in regions like Primorsky Krai is RHD. Regulations on importing used RHD vehicles have tightened in recent years but the legacy fleet remains significant.
- Myanmar: Officially switched to right-hand traffic in 1970, but many vehicles on the road are still RHD due to decades of imports; authorities have periodically restricted new RHD registrations.
These cases highlight that vehicle configuration and road-side rules don’t always match perfectly—market forces and import policies can sustain RHD fleets in right-driving countries.
Why this split persists—and what it means for drivers
Driving side changes are rare because switching is costly and disruptive. Infrastructure, vehicle supply chains, and training are all built around a country’s chosen side. Travelers should check local rules before driving abroad, and importers should verify national regulations because compliance, registration, and insurance can depend on whether a vehicle’s configuration matches the country’s traffic side.
Summary
Right-hand-drive cars are standard in countries that drive on the left—prominently the UK, Japan, Australia, India, South Africa, and much of Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean. RHD vehicles also exist in some right-driving countries due to imports and special uses, but the norm there is left-hand-drive. Always align vehicle configuration with local laws and driving conditions.
What country switched from left to right driving?
Sweden
‘the right-hand traffic reorganisation’), was on 3 September 1967, the day on which Sweden switched from driving on the left-hand side of the road to the right. The “H” stands for “Högertrafik”, the Swedish word for right-hand traffic. It was by far the largest logistical event in Sweden’s history.
Is the USA a left-hand drive country?
Americans drive on the right for a couple of reasons. First, old freight wagons were pulled by teams of horses. Right-handed drivers rode on the left rear horse to use their right hand for maximum control over the whole team of horses. With this setup, driving on the right made more sense.
Which country has right-hand drive cars?
The majority of the world – around two-thirds of countries – drives on the right-hand side, including: USA and Canada (Canada switched from left to right in the 1920s to align with the US) Most of Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Germany, etc.) China and Russia.
What countries are left handed driving?
Many former British colonies in the region have always been LHT, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu; and nations that were previously administered by Australia: Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
