Top Loc Car Rental: Your Keys to St Barth's Hairpin Turns
A family-run rental outfit that has been putting locals and repeat visitors behind the wheel since 2000
Why Go
On St Barth, your rental car is less a convenience than a rite of passage — the island's tight switchbacks, near-vertical driveways, and single-lane villages punish anything bigger than a shoebox. Top Loc has spent 25 years quietly perfecting the art of matching visitors to the right little runabout, whether that's a Mini Cabriolet for coasting to Saline or a nippy electric Twizy for popping between beach clubs.
The Experience
Founded by Didier and Arnaud in 2000 with a modest fleet of 15 cars and now run by Arnaud with roughly 80 vehicles, Top Loc has the feel of a neighborhood garage that happens to hand you keys to a convertible. The airport counter in St-Jean — manned day-in-day-out by Kalû — is a five-minute walk from arrivals, so you're windows-down and climbing toward Lurin before other travelers have finished queuing. The Anse des Cayes address is the maintenance workshop where the mechanics keep every Picanto, Sonet, ZOE, and BMW i3 island-ready; it's why breakdowns are rare and why regulars keep coming back season after season.
What to Try
For couples: the Austin Mini Cabriolet — top down, it turns the drive over Colombier into the highlight of the trip. Solo or budget-minded: the Kia Picanto squeezes into any Gustavia parking slot. Families or groups with luggage: the Suzuki APV or Kia Sonet handles four adults plus beach gear without wheezing up the hills. Eco-curious: the Renault Twizy or ZOE (or BMW i3) plug in at your villa overnight and shrug off the island's 55 km/h speed limit.
Insider Tip
Skip the counter queue entirely — Top Loc will drop the car at the Gustavia dock if you're arriving by ferry from St Maarten, or deliver it straight to your villa or hotel gate on request. If you're flying in on the last Winair rotation and the airport counter is winding down for the 6 PM close, arrange delivery in advance by email (toploc@wanadoo.fr); the team is far more flexible than the posted hours suggest, and they're used to yacht crews and late arrivals.
The Practical Stuff
Counter: St-Barthélemy Airport (Rémy de Haenen), St-Jean — open daily 8 AM–6 PM year-round. Workshop/registered address: Anse des Cayes, 97133. Phone: +590 590 29 02 02. Email: toploc@wanadoo.fr. Bring your driver's license and a credit card for the deposit; an international permit isn't required for most visitors but confirm at booking. Fill up at the Vitet or Lorient stations before returning — the airport has no pump.
Pair It With
- Aéroport de Saint-Barthélemy / Rémy de Haenen Airport Guide — Top Loc's main counter sits right at the airport in St-Jean — pick up the car the moment you clear the (very short) arrivals hall and skip a taxi transfer entirely.
- 1493 Lodges St Barth Guide — Colombier is one of the island's steepest, twistiest corners — exactly the kind of drive where a small, well-maintained Top Loc runabout pays for itself before you reach the front desk.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — Dinner reservations across the island's hills are effectively car-only after sunset; grab the keys in the morning so you're not scrambling for a taxi when it's time to eat.
