Which country uses left-hand drive?

Most countries use left-hand-drive vehicles and drive on the right side of the road. Examples include the United States, Canada, Mexico, most of continental Europe (such as France, Germany, Spain, and Italy), mainland China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the vast majority of nations in Latin America and the Middle East. Below is a clear explanation of what “left-hand drive” means and where it is standard around the world.

What “left-hand drive” means

Left-hand drive (LHD) refers to vehicles with the steering wheel on the left side of the cabin. These vehicles are designed for countries that keep to the right-hand side of the road (right-hand traffic, RHT). This is distinct from right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles, which are used in countries that drive on the left (left-hand traffic, LHT). Confusion often arises because “left-hand drive” describes the car, while “left-hand traffic” describes the side of the road.

Global overview

Right-hand traffic (hence, left-hand-drive vehicles) is the global norm. Roughly three-quarters of the world’s countries and territories drive on the right, encompassing North and South America (with a few exceptions), most of continental Europe, the Middle East, and much of Africa and Asia. Countries that drive on the left—and therefore use right-hand-drive vehicles—include the UK, Ireland, Japan, India, much of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and several nations in Southern and Eastern Africa and the Caribbean.

Countries that use left-hand drive by region

The Americas

In the Americas, driving on the right-hand side—and therefore using left-hand-drive vehicles—is almost universal, with a few exceptions in the Caribbean and two countries on the northern coast of South America.

• North America: United States, Canada, Mexico
• Central America: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
• Caribbean (examples that drive on the right): Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico (U.S.), Curaçao, Aruba
• South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, French Guiana

Notable regional exceptions (drive on the left, use RHD): Guyana and Suriname in South America, and several Caribbean nations including Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and The Bahamas.

Europe

Across continental Europe, countries overwhelmingly drive on the right and use left-hand-drive vehicles.

• Western and Central Europe: France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria
• Northern Europe and Nordics: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland
• Eastern and Southeastern Europe: Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania
• Baltics and Eastern neighbors: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus
• Others: Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Vatican City

Exceptions (drive on the left, use RHD): United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus.

Africa

Most African countries drive on the right and therefore use left-hand-drive vehicles, especially in North, West, and Central Africa.

• North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt
• West and Central Africa: Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Horn and East Africa (RHT examples): Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Sudan
• Southern Africa (RHT examples): Angola, Mozambique (note: Mozambique actually drives on the left; see exceptions below), Namibia (note: Namibia drives on the left), but many mainland neighbors are RHT in central regions

Major exceptions (drive on the left, use RHD): South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Eswatini, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and island nations such as Mauritius and Seychelles.

Asia and the Middle East

Asia and the Middle East are mixed, but the most populous right-driving nations use left-hand-drive vehicles, including China and much of the Middle East.

• East Asia: China (mainland), South Korea, North Korea, Taiwan (all drive on the right, use LHD); Japan is an exception (LHT, uses RHD)
• Southeast Asia (RHT examples): Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Myanmar
• Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
• South Asia (RHT examples): Afghanistan; most others in South Asia drive on the left (RHD)
• Middle East: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran
• Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Key exceptions (drive on the left, use RHD): India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and Japan. Note: Myanmar drives on the right (intended for LHD), but many vehicles are still RHD due to imports, making it a special case.

Oceania and the Pacific

Oceania is split: Australasia uses right-hand-drive vehicles and keeps left; many Micronesian states drive on the right and use left-hand-drive vehicles.

• Micronesia and U.S.-affiliated territories (RHT, use LHD): Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, American Samoa
• French territories (RHT, use LHD): French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna
• Other Pacific states with RHT include: Vanuatu (RHT)

Exceptions (drive on the left, use RHD): Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, and several other Polynesian states historically influenced by the UK or New Zealand.

Notable exceptions and special cases

While traffic side typically dictates vehicle configuration, some countries present unusual combinations due to import patterns, history, or proximity to neighbors.

• Myanmar: Drives on the right but still has many right-hand-drive imports, creating visibility and safety challenges.
• Caribbean variation: Some islands drive on the left (e.g., Jamaica, Barbados), others on the right (e.g., Dominican Republic, Cuba), reflecting different colonial histories.
• Border and trade influences: In several right-driving countries near left-driving neighbors, both LHD and RHD vehicles can be seen; regulations on imports vary.
• Historic switches: Sweden changed from left to right in 1967; Samoa switched from right to left in 2009.

These cases underline that while LHD aligns with right-hand traffic, real-world fleets can reflect economic and historical factors that blur the simple left/right divide.

Tips for travelers and vehicle importers

If you plan to drive abroad or import a vehicle, knowing the local standard is essential for safety and compliance.

• Always confirm the country’s traffic side and legal vehicle configuration before travel or purchase.
• In countries permitting both LHD and RHD, check lane-use rules, passing visibility, toll booths, and headlight alignment requirements.
• Renting locally ensures the correct configuration; if bringing your own vehicle, verify insurance and temporary import rules.
• At borders connecting left- and right-driving countries, expect clear signage and sometimes special road designs to guide side changes.

Preparation reduces risk, ensures legal compliance, and makes adapting to local road norms far easier.

Summary

Left-hand-drive vehicles are standard in countries that drive on the right—comprising most of the world, including the U.S., Canada, nearly all of continental Europe, China, Russia, most of the Middle East, and the majority of the Americas. Left-driving (and thus right-hand-drive) countries are concentrated in the UK and Ireland, parts of Southern and Eastern Africa, South Asia, Japan, and much of Southeast Asia and Australasia. When in doubt, verify the local standard and regulations before driving or importing a vehicle.

Which country uses right-hand drive?

Right-Hand Drive Countries
Some specific countries that use right-hand drive cars include Japan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.

How many countries use left-hand drive?

There are 163 countries and territories that drive on the right side of the road, while 76 of them drive on the left. Many of the countries that drive on the left — making up about 30% of the world’s population — are former British colonies, including ones in Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, and Oceania.

Is the UK left or right-hand drive?

The United Kingdom is a left-hand drive country, meaning traffic drives on the left side of the road and most cars have the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle. This practice is a remnant of long-standing historical traditions, possibly dating back to the Romans, and is a characteristic shared with about 30% of the world’s countries.
 
Historical Roots

• Pre-Roman and Roman Eras: The practice of driving on the left may have been established by the Romans, with evidence suggesting they also used left-hand traffic. 
• Medieval Times: Knights, being predominantly right-handed, would naturally hold their lances in their right hand for combat, keeping their left side to the horse and the opponent, a tradition that continued on horseback. 
• Wagon Drivers: When large wagons for transporting goods became popular in the late 1700s, the driver would often sit on a horse in the middle of the team, using their whip hand to control the horses from the left, which kept their right hand free. 

Left-Hand Traffic (LHT) and RHT

• Left-Hand Traffic (LHT): Countries that drive on the left use the LHT system. 
• Right-Hand Traffic (RHT): Countries that drive on the right use the RHT system. 
• Global Majority: Most of the world’s countries, including the United States, Canada, and much of Europe, have switched to RHT, with the United Kingdom and other countries like Australia, India, and Japan still following LHT. 

Is the USA left-hand drive?

Yes, most vehicles in the United States are left-hand drive because the U.S. drives on the right side of the road, a practice that became standard in Colonial America. The driver’s position on the left provides better visibility of oncoming traffic and makes it easier to safely pull out from parallel parking. An exception is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where drivers travel on the left, but cars still have their steering wheels on the left, which is a unique situation.
 
Why the U.S. uses left-hand drive cars:

• Right-hand travel: The U.S. adopted right-hand driving early on, with New York instituting the rule for public highways in 1804. 
• Visibility: Having the steering wheel on the left allows drivers to better see oncoming traffic that is coming from the left. 
• Historical factors: The tradition of right-hand driving may stem from large, bulky Conestoga wagons and a resistance to British customs, which favored left-hand traffic. 

Where it’s different:

• U.S. Virgin Islands: Opens in new tabThis U.S. territory drives on the left side of the road, though their vehicles still have the steering wheel on the left. 
• Specialized Vehicles: Opens in new tabA small number of specialized U.S. vehicles, such as mail delivery vehicles, may be built with right-hand drive to improve functionality for the driver. 

Where to see right-hand drive cars: 

• In countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, India, and Australia, which drive on the left side of the road.