Renting a Car in Mauritius
Are you looking to rent a car for your upcoming trip to Mauritius?
You’re absolutely right to do so!
Having a car on the island will allow you to explore Mauritius freely and without any constraints, and to venture off the beaten path!
In this article, I’ll share my tips and recommendations for renting a car in Mauritius at the best price, and under the safest conditions.
I will also answer all your questions about:
- driving in Mauritius
- the condition of the roads
- the requirements for driving on the island
- the best car rental agencies to choose from.
After reading this guide, you’ll have all the keys to ensure your driving experience in Mauritius is as pleasant and stress-free as possible.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Sommaire
Tips for Renting Your Car in Mauritius
Should You Rent a Car in Mauritius?
Having a car at your disposal during your holiday in Mauritius is an undeniable advantage. It gives you the freedom to go wherever you want, at your own pace, without depending on taxis and buses.
Furthermore, a car allows you to reach more remote places, off the typical tourist tracks.
To get around Mauritius, you can of course also use buses. But honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have time to waste.
The bus network covers the island quite well, but journeys can be endless, often involving multiple line changes.
Sometimes, just a bus ride in Mauritius can exhaust you for the day!
However, it’s true that the bus is the most economical option for getting around Mauritius.
But if you really want to enjoy your holiday, explore the island from north to south and east to west without wasting time and energy, here’s a tip: forget about public transport.
To fully enjoy your stay in Mauritius and feel free to move around, renting a car is, in my opinion, essential.
To find your rental car in Mauritius, I recommend going through Booking Cars.
Why? Because with Booking Cars you can:
- Compare prices from different rental companies online super easily. Ideal for saving money!
- Cancel your rental for free if you change your mind (up to 48h before pick-up time).
- Take advantage of the “complete protection” insurance, which covers you against all potential issues. And what’s more, it’s cheaper than those offered by the rental companies!
If you don’t want to drive in Mauritius and you also don’t want to take the bus, there’s another interesting option: hiring the services of a private taxi!
Your driver will accompany you from one place to another in a comfortable car, following the itinerary of your choice, at the pace you want.
Plus, the driver-guides are generally very friendly and share their tips and knowledge about their country to teach you lots of unique things about Mauritius.
It’s the best way to visit Mauritius without worrying about the road!
However, it’s not cheap. But if it fits in your budget, it’s definitely worth it.
One last thing: this private driver-guide service is certified by GetYourGuide, which means you get a satisfaction or money-back guarantee!
To book your private driver during your stay in Mauritius, click below:
Is It Easy to Drive in Mauritius?
Before you even think about your road trip in Mauritius, there’s an essential detail to consider: in Mauritius, you drive on the left side of the road.
If you’re coming from the UK, it’s business as usual for you 🙂
On the other hand, if you’re coming from a country where you drive on the right side of the road, you’ll just need to be a bit more cautious when it comes to driving on the left, having the steering wheel on the right, and taking roundabouts clockwise!
If you’ve never experienced driving on the left and you’re not sure how to drive in Mauritius, don’t worry.
Essentially, driving on the left isn’t particularly difficult if you’re attentive, and you will be guided by the flow of other vehicles on the road anyway.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists who are used to driving on the right rent cars in Mauritius during their holidays and everything goes well.
I had the same experience when I arrived. After going around at two miles an hour for 2 or 3 days and finding it strange to take roundabouts the other way, I quickly got the hang of it 😉
Concerning the Mauritian driving style, you might be surprised by certain local habits.
For example, the horn is used liberally here. To announce their presence, to indicate an intention to overtake, to request passage, to yield to someone…
Try not to pay too much attention to it so that you don’t get distracted. Personally, after 8 years I’m still not used to it; it still makes me jump!
Driving in Mauritius might be a bit of an adventure at first, especially in bustling city centers like Port Louis.
On smaller roads, locals also tend not to pay much attention to right-of-way. Caution is thus advised.
Other than that, road rules are generally well respected.
Something else worth knowing: the island is much too small in comparison to the number of vehicles that are on it. This means that during rush hour, certain roads can become completely congested.
To avoid wasting time in traffic jams, try to avoid the major roads during school pick-up times (2:30-3:00 PM), early mornings (7-8:30 AM) and in the evenings around 5-6 PM.
What are the Roads Like in Mauritius?
In Mauritius, the condition of the roads can be quite varied.
The motorway and major roads are well-maintained, and most have been recently refurbished.
In the small villages and countryside, on the other hand, there are quite a few bumpy roads. The number of potholes on Mauritius’s roads has always amazed me ??
Swerving to avoid the holes quickly becomes second nature when driving in Mauritius 😀
Car Rental in Mauritius: Practical Information
Can You Drive in Mauritius with a French Driving License?
Yes! It’s perfectly legal for visitors to drive in Mauritius with a French driving license.
However, for residents, the French license must be exchanged for a Mauritian one.
Car Rental Agencies in Mauritius: Which One to Choose?
Mauritius has most of the well-known car rental brands such as Avis, Hertz, or Sixt. These are primarily located at the airport, in some large hotels, and in tourist towns like Flic-en-Flac and Grand Baie.
Besides these, there are also several local agencies spread around Mauritius, but I wouldn’t really recommend dealing with small private renters. It’s risky in terms of protection and insurance, and there are often scams.
The most convenient option is to book your car rental in Mauritius directly at the airport or in a major city.
And to compare the available offers, I recommend using Booking Cars. This car rental comparison site for Mauritius is the best for finding the perfect vehicle according to your budget.
Just enter your arrival and departure dates in Mauritius, and the website will provide a list of available vehicles of different types and price ranges, with all the details (automatic or manual, number of seats, trunk capacity, etc.).
It’s super convenient, both for booking and for checking prices and types of cars available.
Using Booking Cars saves you precious time: rather than searching for information on each car rental site, you have everything in one place!
In addition, you get a comprehensive insurance protection, which covers you in case of an incident and is much cheaper than going directly through an agency.
Another plus: if you change your mind after booking, you can cancel for free, which isn’t possible with traditional renters!
What Are the Conditions for Renting a Car?
There are 4 mandatory conditions for renting a car in Mauritius:
- Having held your driving license for at least 1 year
- Being at least 20 or 21 years old, sometimes 25 years old depending on the agency
- Presenting a valid passport
- Having a credit card for the security deposit
Planning a road trip in Mauritius? To help you plan everything, I’ve detailed the 6 best itineraries for exploring Mauritius by car right here: Road-Tripping in Mauritius
Car Rental Prices in Mauritius
Depending on the type of car you want to rent for your holidays, prices can vary quite a bit, generally from 30€ for small cars to over 100€ per day for premium vehicles.
For a family vehicle like an SUV, the average rate for car rental in Mauritius is about 50-60€ per day.
If you’re looking for an affordable car rental in Mauritius, you should consider a compact sedan, which often costs around 30€/day.
Your budget for car rental in Mauritius should also include the price of fuel, currently costing around 70 rupees per litre, which is roughly 1.40€.
Another important budget consideration is insurance! Traveling in Mauritius without insurance is strongly discouraged, but driving in Mauritius without insurance is, in my opinion, quite unthinkable.
All car rental agencies in Mauritius offer insurance to their customers. In my view, you really shouldn’t overlook this. Because in the event of an accident, scratch or dent on the car, what you will have to pay will always be much more expensive than the cost of insurance!
By booking through Booking.com Cars, what’s great is that you can opt for the “complete protection” plan which provides optimal coverage and is much more affordable than the insurances offered by rental companies.
Plus, Booking Cars refunds very quickly (I was refunded in just 4 days!).
If you’re spending a few days on Rodrigues Island during your stay in Mauritius, you’ll need another car on the spot.
On this very small and remote island, there are only a few rental agencies. One that I can recommend is Rodrigues 2000 Tours, which offers a reliable and serious service. I went through them and had no problems at all; it was perfect.
(If you’ve tried another car rental in Rodrigues and want to share your experience, feel free to leave me a comment below this article! 
)
Moreover, if you’re looking for travel itineraries in Mauritius that include a stop in Rodrigues, I have two options for you, available below:
Travel Insurance for Mauritius: My Advice
Many travelers mistakenly think that healthcare in Mauritius is affordable and that they don’t need travel insurance. But in reality, the public healthcare system is fragile and even the slightest consultation in a private clinic can be very expensive!
That’s why it’s essential to have travel insurance with solid medical coverage before you leave.
For complete peace of mind, I recommend the following two insurance options (both include epidemic coverage such as for Covid-19, which is very important!)
To sign up, it’s very simple, just click on the orange links below:
- ACS AMI Globe Partner: Medical insurance and repatriation
- Assur Travel Summum: Premium insurance (medical, repatriation, baggage theft, flight delay, cancellation and more!)
🚗 Rent a car
🗽 Book your tickets and guided tours
🏄 Book your sports activities
🚤 Rent a boat
🌍 Get your travel insurance
✈️ Book your flight
You’re traveling to Mauritius? These articles will help you!
Discover all my articles about Mauritius: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Mauritius are listed there.
- Best Time to go to Mauritius? – Seasons, weather, activities, prices
The best itineraries for your trip
- Itinerary: 5 days in Mauritius – An amazing itinerary for a short stay in Mauritius
- Itinerary: One week in Mauritius – The perfect itinerary to visit the island in 7 days
- Itinerary: 10 days in Mauritius – The perfect itinerary to visit Mauritius in 10 days
- Itinerary: 2 weeks in Mauritius – The ultimate guide to Mauritius in 15 days
- Itinerary: 3 weeks in Mauritius – Plan your 20-21 day stay in Mauritius easily!
- Road-trip in Mauritius – The 6 best itineraries for your trip!
- Mauritius off the beaten track – 17 hidden gems to discover
Places to Visit
- Bellemare: Top 11 places and activities
- Underwater waterfall in Mauritius – How to get there + Tips
- Chamarel: 11 Epic Things to Do
- Flic-en-Flac: Top 10 places to visit and things to do
- Grand Baie: The Ultimate Guide
- Grand Bassin: All the Best Things to Do
- Île aux Bénitiers: How to get there + Tips
- Île aux Cerfs: The Definitive Guide to Plan Your Visit
- Mahébourg: Best Places to Visit + Tips
- Morne Brabant: How to Visit Morne Brabat?
- Black River Gorges National Park: What to See and Do?
- Port-Louis: The ultimate guide
Activities
- The Best Activities in Mauritius – Water sports, cruises, day trips, guided tours…
- The Best Boat Trips in Mauritius – Top 5 + Rates and booking
- Scuba diving in Mauritius: The Definitve Guide
- Swimming with dolphins in Mauritius: Best excursions, Prices + My best Tips
- Seaplane tour in Mauritius: My experience + Prices and Tips
Organize your stay
- Where to Stay in Mauritius: The Definitive Guide – All types of accommodation for all budgets
- 4-Star Hotels in Mauritius: My selection of the best!
- 5-Star Hotels in Mauritius: The Definitive Guide
- All Inclusive Hotels in Mauritius: My top 15 of the best hotels
- Guesthouses and B&B in Mauritius: My Selection for a perfect stay
- The 11 Most Beautiful Nature Lodges in Mauritius
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