Driving on Catalina Island

Information about driving on Catalina Island in Southern California. See also more about Land Transportation on Catalina and information about All Transport on Catalina Island.

Avalon is the only city in California authorized by the state legislature to limit the number vehicles allowed to drive its city streets, and the waiting list to own a car on the island is typically longer than 20 years.

The main methods of transportation within the city of Avalon are walking and driving an "automette", a category of gas or electric powered vehicles that includes golf carts and similar size vehicles. Autoettes must be less than 55 inches wide, less than 120 inches long, and under 1,800 pounds in weight.

Visitors are not able to rent or drive cars on Catalina Island but visigtors can rent golf carts to drive within the city limits of Avalon. Four to six passenger golf carts can typically rented only for 1 or 2 hour periods, but they typically canot be rented for longer periods or overnight. If visitors want access to a golf cart 24 hours a day, they will want to stay ih a hotel or rent a vacation home that includes use of a golf cart in their rates.

Owning an Autoette on Catalina Island
- Residents may acquire permits allow one autoette per household - However ermits are issued to individuals, not specific vehicles - The permit must be surrende3red when an individual's residency ends - Permits annot be transferred except by petitioning the city Council Only one new vehicle permit is issued for every two permits that become ineligible to be renewed or are voluntarily surrendered. For purposes of vehicle registration, Catalina Island is divided into two classifications: within Avalon and "Interior" (areas outside the city limits). The city has its own strict permit program with which local vehicle owners must comply, in addition to the usual requirements imposed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.[59] Because of these restrictions, there is no regular vehicle ferry service for visitors to take their car to Avalon and the rest of Catalina Island. A taxi service is available to provide transportation in Avalon and throughout the island.

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Land Transportation on Catalina Island

All Transportation on Catalina Island

Catalina Island Travel Guide

California for Visitors

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