PBS Auto
The island's one-stop mobility hub, where locals and long-stay visitors gear up for St Barth life
Why Go
You won't find a Saint Barth vacation photo dedicated to a car dealership, but nearly every islander has a PBS story. This family-run operation on the road to Grand Cul de Sac is the beating heart of the island's transport scene: exclusive distributor for Kia, Suzuki, Toyota, Jeep, and Dodge, parent to the venerable Turbé Car Rental (running since 1982), and the garage that keeps the island's Minis and Suzuki Jimnys humming after too many salt-air adventures.
The Experience
Pull into the Route de Grand Cul de Sac showroom and the vibe is more neighborhood garage than glossy dealership. Mechanics wave from open bays, French and Creole overlap on the phones, and a rotating cast of residents drops by to pick up a serviced Jeep or negotiate a long-term lease. For visitors, the practical entry point is really Turbé Car Rental at the airport in Saint-Jean, a five-minute hop away, where the fleet of 150+ vehicles ranges from tiny open-top cabrios perfect for Gustavia's narrow lanes to 4x4s built for the climb up to Colombier and 8-seater minivans for villa groups. Delivery anywhere on the island is free, and the 24/7 assistance line has rescued more than one honeymooner from a flat tire above Anse des Cayes.
What to Try
If you're staying more than a few days, skip the international chains and ask Turbé for one of their soft-top Suzuki Jimnys or a Fiat 500 cabriolet — small enough for the harbor-side parking scramble, tall enough to handle the steep pitch up to Lurin. Renting from PBS's Turbé arm also means that if something breaks, you're already inside the ecosystem that services half the island, so a swap can happen in an hour rather than a day. Villa renters staying two-plus weeks should ask about Leasing SBH's short-run options — often cheaper than a straight rental.
Insider Tip
Book your vehicle before you book your flight in high season (mid-December through March and the two weeks around the St Barth Bucket regatta). The island's total rental fleet is finite, and Turbé's convertibles and Jeep Wranglers vanish first. If you land carless, walk (don't taxi) the 400 meters from the terminal to the Turbé counter — walk-ins occasionally score last-minute cancellations, and the staff are far more helpful in person than by email.
The Practical Stuff
Main PBS Auto dealership and service center at 595 Route de Grand Cul de Sac, open Mon-Fri 7:30am-12pm and 1:30-5pm, closed weekends. Turbé Car Rental counter is at Rémy de Haenen Airport in Saint-Jean and keeps longer, seven-day hours to match flight arrivals. Main line +590 590 51 93 85. Bring your home driver's license (an IDP is not required for stays under 90 days for most nationalities) and a credit card for the deposit. Roads are narrow, steep, and often one-lane — a compact car is a feature, not a compromise.
Pair It With
- R├⌐my de Haenen Airport (SBH) — Turb├⌐'s rental counter sits right at the airport, so a pickup or drop-off pairs seamlessly with your inbound Winair or St Barth Commuter flight from Sint Maarten.
- A fleur de peau - St Barth — Once you've got wheels, Saint-Jean's boutique strip is your first easy stop for beachwear and gifts before heading to the sand at Baie de Saint-Jean.
- Absolute Hot Yoga (Gustavia) — Having a car makes the twisty drive from Saint-Jean down into Gustavia for a sunset class effortless ΓÇö and parking near the harbor is much easier on two wheels or in something small from Turb├⌐'s fleet.
- 1493 Lodges St Barth (Colombier) — Colombier is the island's far northwest corner and effectively unreachable without a vehicle; a Turb├⌐ 4x4 makes the winding drive up (and the walk down to Colombier Beach) genuinely fun.