Which countries use right-hand drive?

Many countries use right-hand drive (steering wheel on the right), primarily those where traffic keeps to the left; notable examples include the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Tanzania. In general, if a country drives on the left side of the road, its vehicles are right-hand drive by design.

What “right-hand drive” means

Right-hand drive (RHD) refers to vehicles with the steering wheel on the right side of the cabin. RHD is standard in countries that keep left in traffic. This layout positions drivers closer to the centerline, improving visibility for overtaking and ensuring alignment with road design, signage, and safety norms in left-side traffic systems.

Countries that use right-hand drive by region

Europe

The following European countries drive on the left and therefore use right-hand-drive vehicles as standard.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Cyprus
• Malta

Across Europe, these are the primary states with left-side traffic; elsewhere on the continent, countries typically drive on the right and use left-hand-drive vehicles.

Asia

Large parts of South and Southeast Asia, along with Japan, use right-hand-drive vehicles because they drive on the left side of the road.

• Japan
• India
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal
• Bhutan
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Indonesia
• Brunei
• Timor-Leste (East Timor)
• Maldives
• Hong Kong (China SAR)
• Macau (China SAR)

These markets are among the world’s largest for RHD vehicles, with Japan and India in particular shaping global RHD production and export.

Africa

Much of southern and eastern Africa uses left-side traffic and therefore standardizes on right-hand-drive vehicles.

• South Africa
• Namibia
• Botswana
• Lesotho
• Eswatini
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Tanzania
• Kenya
• Uganda
• Mauritius
• Seychelles

These countries align with neighboring road networks and historical standards, maintaining a consistent RHD ecosystem across the region.

Americas and the Caribbean

While most of the Americas drive on the right, a number of Caribbean nations and two mainland South American states use left-side traffic and thus right-hand-drive vehicles.

• Guyana
• Suriname
• Jamaica
• Barbados
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Bahamas
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Grenada
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Dominica
• Saint Kitts and Nevis

These jurisdictions reflect British-influenced driving norms and maintain RHD fleets consistent with left-side traffic.

Oceania

Oceania features several left-driving nations where right-hand-drive vehicles are the standard for roads and imports.

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Fiji
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Solomon Islands

Australia and New Zealand anchor the region’s RHD market, with neighboring island states following compatible road and vehicle standards.

Territories and dependencies that use right-hand drive

Beyond sovereign countries, many territories also drive on the left and therefore use right-hand-drive vehicles.

• Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey (UK Crown Dependencies)
• Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat (UK Overseas Territories)
• Falkland Islands; St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK Overseas Territories)
• Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau (associated with New Zealand); Norfolk Island (Australia)
• U.S. Virgin Islands (drive on the left; vehicle mix includes many LHD imports)

These territories generally mirror the traffic rules of their administering states or historic influences, with occasional import-driven variations in vehicle orientation.

Notes and special cases

A few places have unusual mixes or historical shifts that can cause confusion when assessing “right-hand drive” usage.

• Myanmar switched to driving on the right in 1970, but many vehicles remain RHD due to imports, creating a nonstandard mix.
• Samoa switched from right-side to left-side driving in 2009 to align with RHD vehicle supply from Australia and New Zealand.
• Gibraltar drives on the right despite UK ties; by contrast, Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left.

Such cases highlight that vehicle orientation follows traffic direction, but policy changes or import patterns can produce exceptions.

Summary

Countries that use right-hand-drive vehicles are those that drive on the left, with major examples including the UK, Japan, Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Tanzania. Regional clusters span the British Isles, South and Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania. While the rule of thumb is straightforward—left-side traffic equals right-hand drive—there are a few notable exceptions and mixed fleets driven by history and import markets.

How many countries use right-hand drive?

RHT is used in 165 countries and territories, mainly in the Americas, Continental Europe, most of Africa and mainland Asia (except South Asia and Thailand), while 75 countries use LHT, which account for about a sixth of the world’s land area, a quarter of its roads, and about a third of its population.

Which country uses left-hand drive?

Key left-hand driving countries include: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta (Europe) Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (Asia-Pacific) Japan (one of the few non-Commonwealth left-hand nations)

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.

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.