This FAQ answers practical questions for renting a car via islandcarsmauritius.com: which driving licence and minimum age are required, what standard insurance covers, how deposits and payments typically work, how pick-up and drop-off at the airport function, what to do after an accident, and where to find the full terms and contacts cited on the site and in official sources consulted on 07/09/2026.
Before you book: what driving licence and minimum age are required?
A valid driving licence is required to rent a vehicle. Renters must present a licence that is valid in their country of issue; depending on the traveller’s country, an International Driving Permit may be required in addition to the national licence. For guidance on which licences are accepted and on licensing rules, consult the Licensing Office information and the Road Traffic Act as cited below (sources consulted 07/09/2026).
Rental companies set their own age policies and may apply restrictions or surcharges for younger drivers. Policies vary between providers, so check the terms and conditions of the chosen supplier before confirming a booking. When terms are not explicit on the booking page, contact the rental company directly to confirm age limits and any young-driver fee.
Special cases such as expired licences, temporary licences, or licences issued under unusual conditions are handled by the Licensing Office and the police licensing branch. For definitive rulings on acceptability of a licence, refer to the Licensing Office guidance and the Road Traffic Act cited below (consulted 07/09/2026).
Insurance: what does the included coverage usually cover and what does it not?
Standard practice among car rental providers in Mauritius is to include Third-Party Liability (TPL) in the rental price. This type of cover responds to liability for damage to third parties and is referenced in the terms and conditions of several local and international suppliers (sources consulted 07/09/2026).
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and options to reduce or buy out the excess are commonly offered as optional extras. These options alter the renter’s financial exposure in the event of damage to the rented vehicle, but they are subject to the provider’s specific terms. Many providers exclude certain items from CDW or reduced-excess covers—examples include tyres, windscreen, underbody, and some weather-related events—but precise exclusions differ by contract and must be checked in the supplier’s T&C before booking.
Certain risks may be excluded from standard policies unless a specific option is purchased. Theft, damage during severe weather events such as cyclone-related flooding, and loss arising from unauthorised use can be excluded by some suppliers. Because exclusions are contract-specific, consult the supplier’s published terms and conditions and ask the supplier for written confirmation when a risk is material to the booking decision.
Payment and deposit: how does the security deposit / pre-authorisation typically work?
A common practice among rental companies is to place a pre-authorisation or hold on a credit card at the time the vehicle is collected. Terms and examples of this practice appear in supplier terms and conditions referenced below (sources consulted 07/09/2026).
Accepted payment methods and the possibility of cash deposits vary by supplier. If the rental company’s terms do not clearly state accepted payment types or deposit procedures, contact the supplier before travel to confirm whether a credit card is required and whether alternative arrangements are permitted.
If a deposit is challenged later—for example, if a card issuer disputes a hold—retain all booking confirmations, receipts and correspondence, and contact the rental company promptly to resolve the matter. The supplier’s dispute and refund procedures are described in their terms and conditions and should be followed for an official resolution.
Pick-up and return: airport procedures, fuel policy and late returns
Meet & greet services at the airport are described on islandcarsmauritius.com and were consulted on 07/09/2026. If a meet & greet is part of the reservation, check the booking confirmation for exact meeting instructions and timing. For airport collections not explicitly covered on the booking page, confirm arrangements with the supplier.
Fuel policies differ by supplier. Common models include “full-to-full” (return with the same level as collected) or policies where the supplier charges for refuelling at a set rate. If the booking page or the supplier’s terms do not state the fuel policy, verify it before collection to avoid misunderstandings at drop-off.
Late returns or returns outside agreed hours are handled according to the supplier’s stated conditions. Where terms are unclear, contact the supplier’s assistance or customer service line shown in the booking confirmation to report delays and obtain instructions to avoid disputes on return.
Additional drivers and permitted use of the vehicle
Insurance coverage and contractual conditions are often conditional on the named drivers listed on the rental agreement. If an unauthorised person drives the vehicle, the insurer or the rental company may decline cover and treat any resulting damage as a breach of contract. Confirm whether additional drivers must be registered and whether any age or licence conditions apply for each additional driver in the supplier’s terms.
Use of the vehicle outside permitted geographies or for prohibited activities (racing, carrying passengers for hire, off-road use where disallowed) can void insurance cover. Where specific permitted-use rules are not included on the booking page, consult the supplier’s terms and contact them to obtain written confirmation before undertaking such use.
If there is an accident or other incident: immediate steps and evidence to gather
The immediate priority is the safety of people. If emergency services are required, contact them first. When it is safe, follow local procedures: exchange details with other parties, and if police attend, obtain an official report or reference number. The rental supplier’s claims procedure and notification requirements are in their terms and conditions; follow those steps to report the incident to the supplier and to any insurer concerned (examples in supplier T&C cited below).
Gather documentary evidence: photos of the scene and the vehicles, contact details of witnesses, and a copy of any police report. Keep copies of all correspondence with the supplier and with insurers. Prompt notification to the supplier as required by their terms will help ensure the claim process can begin without delay.
Optional extras: GPS, child seats, and chauffeur service
Common optional extras include GPS units, child seats, and the possibility of hiring a chauffeur. These options are typically charged separately and must be requested at booking or at collection. For pricing and availability, check the supplier’s booking pages or contact the supplier directly, as pricing is not provided here.
If a chauffeur is supplied, the contract and insurance implications differ from a standard self-drive booking. Such arrangements change the status of the driver and may alter which party is insured for specific risks; confirm the effect on insurance cover with the supplier before finalising the booking.
Cancellation and modification of a reservation
Cancellation and modification policies depend on how the booking was made and on the supplier’s terms. Where the policy is not explicit on the booking confirmation or the supplier’s published terms, contact the supplier to clarify cancellation windows, potential fees, and the procedure for modifying the reservation.
Keep the booking confirmation and any cancellation or modification receipts. For disputes over refunds or changes, refer to the supplier’s published terms and to any consumer protection remedies that may apply.
Driving in Mauritius: local rules and practical points
Vehicles in Mauritius are driven on the left. Licensing rules and road traffic law are governed by the Road Traffic Act and the Licensing Office; consult those official sources for legal requirements (sources consulted 07/09/2026). Take extra care on secondary roads, and observe local driving conditions and seasonal hazards such as cyclonic weather.
Pertinent national road information, licensing requirements and formal guidance are available from the Road Traffic Act and the Mauritius Police Licensing Office sources listed below. If information on local charges such as tolls is not stated in those sources, treat it as unchecked and verify with an official source.
Contact and assistance for contract questions
For specific contractual details—cover amounts, exact deposit procedures, precise exclusions, or supplier-imposed age-related fees—refer to the supplier’s full terms and conditions and contact the supplier directly. Islandcarsmauritius.com lists meet & greet and contact information on its homepage consulted 07/09/2026; use the contact details provided there for clarification on booking-specific questions.
For claims or disputes, use the supplier’s claims procedure described in their published terms and retain all documentary proof as noted above.
Links cited and official references (consulted 07/09/2026)
- islandcarsmauritius.comislandcarsmauritius.com
- Road Traffic Act — legal framework for driving and licensing. Consulted 07/09/2026
- Mauritius Police Force — Licensing Office / Traffic Branch. Consulted 07/09/2026
- FinalRentals Mauritius — Terms & Conditions; guide on rental insurance. Consulted 07/09/2026
- Hertz Mauritius — Terms & Conditions. Consulted 07/09/2026
- Tropicar — Terms illustrating deposit/pre-authorisation practice. Consulted 07/09/2026
- Sixt — example terms on exclusions and authorised drivers. Consulted 07/09/2026
- Rentcar Mauritius — terms and claim procedures. Consulted 07/09/2026
- Mauricars — example terms on vehicle condition and claims. Consulted 07/09/2026
⛔ What we do not know (and therefore did not state)
– Exact franchise/excess amounts charged or retained by Island Cars Mauritius were not found on the homepage or accessible T&C and are not stated here.
– The exact minimum age and any monetary young-driver supplements applied by Island Cars Mauritius were not available in the consulted pages and are not stated here.
– Precise deposit amounts, types of accepted card, or alternative deposit modalities specific to Island Cars Mauritius were not found on the consulted pages and are therefore not presented.
– A definitive, supplier-specific list of exclusions (for example, precise coverage for cyclone, flood, tyres, windscreen) for Island Cars Mauritius was not publicly available in the consulted terms and is not asserted here.
Practical next step
For booking decisions or contract-specific questions (exact deposit, franchise amounts, young-driver fees, and explicit exclusions), consult the supplier’s terms and the contact details on the islandcarsmauritius.com booking confirmation and ask the supplier to confirm contract terms in writing before finalising a reservation.
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Frequently asked questions
Which side of the road do you drive on in Mauritius?
On the left.
How many businesses does the directory list?
293 entries in 48 towns: 140 rental desks, 147 dealers and 5 scooter hirers.
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- Long-term car hire in Mauritius: what to know
- Driving in Mauritius: Tourist Guide
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