Are you planning your trip to Mauritius, have already booked your flights, and are still unsure how to get around the island? The easiest option, of course, is to book a rental car for Mauritius. This gives you flexibility and allows you to easily explore Mauritius’s most beautiful beaches and highlights on your own.

The road network is very well developed, with only a few kilometers of unpaved roads. Today, we’ll share all the tips and information you need about rental cars in Mauritius and show you what you should definitely pay attention to. Enjoy browsing!

What else you should know

  • What else you should know
  • Rental cars in Mauritius
  • Booking a rental car
  • Safety in Mauritius with a rental car
  • Traffic rules on the island
  • Rental cars in Mauritius & Navigation
  • Filling up and parking on the island
  • Taxi tours in Mauritius
  • Taking buses on the island
  • Renting scooters in Mauritius

Rental cars in Mauritius

There are many advantages over taxis or buses. With your own rental car, you’re flexible, can explore the places (regardless of the travel time in Mauritius), even reach more remote areas, and even transport something. You get used to driving on the left relatively quickly in Mauritius, the roads are in good condition, and the traffic isn’t as bad as you might imagine.

The island state isn’t particularly large. With an area of just under 1,900 square kilometers, Mauritius is about the size of Munich or Hamburg. From north to south, it’s about 70 kilometers, and from east to west, about 40. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t underestimate the distances. Since there are still many potholes, you can’t drive very fast on the island anyway. The many curves (especially in the mountainous regions) also discourage you from pressing the accelerator.

For Mauritius, you generally don’t need an international driver’s license if you have an EU driver’s license. German or Austrian driver’s licenses are recognized there. However, the license must, of course, be valid and issued in Latin script.

Book a rental car

Now you might be wondering where the best place to book your car is, right? In most cases, we recommend booking the car in advance through a common portal. This way, you don’t have to worry about it once you get there. We are very satisfied with the platform www.billiger-mietwagen.de*. We’ve booked a car for our trips countless times on this booking portal and have always been satisfied.

As always, we recommend the following included services:

  • Comprehensive insurance and theft protection
  • No excess (through reimbursement)
  • Glass, tire, and underbody protection
  • Unlimited liability insurance
  • All-inclusive mileage
  • Fuel policy: full/full

You can get a small car at www.billiger-mietwagen.de* from just €230 for one week in February (deposit: €400). Comprehensive insurance and theft protection with no excess, glass, tire, and underbody protection, and unlimited mileage. You don’t actually need a particularly large car or an SUV for Mauritius. Of course, if you’re traveling with children and a partner, you’ll want a larger car so everyone has enough space.

Book a rental car in Mauritius

Safety in Mauritius with a rental car

Mauritius is generally a safe travel destination, and driving a rental car gives you the freedom to explore the island at your own pace. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure safe travels:

Traffic rules and driving style:

  • Left-hand traffic: Mauritius is a left-hand drive country, which may be unusual for many Europeans. Pay particular attention when turning and at roundabouts.
  • Local driving style: Some local drivers are prone to risky driving behavior, such as fast overtaking or abrupt turns. Therefore, drive defensively and with foresight.
  • Speed limits: The speed limit is usually 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on country roads, and 110 km/h on motorways. However, pay attention to the signs, as there may be deviations.

Road conditions:

  • Road condition: Main roads are generally well-maintained, but secondary roads can be narrow and have potholes. After dark, special caution is required as roads are often unlit.
  • Animals and Pedestrians: It is not uncommon for animals or pedestrians to cross the road, especially in rural areas. Therefore, always be alert.

Vehicle Choice and Equipment:

  • Vehicle Type: A small car is sufficient for most journeys. For remote or unpaved roads, an off-road vehicle may be useful.
  • Equipment: A rental car with an automatic transmission makes driving on the left easier, as you can concentrate better on the traffic.

Safety Measures:

  • Valuables: Do not leave valuables visible in the car to avoid theft.
  • Parking: Use guarded parking lots, especially in cities and tourist areas.
  • Emergency Numbers: Save the number of your car rental company and the local emergency number (999 or 112) in your phone.

Insurance and Documents:

  • Insurance Coverage: Make sure your rental car is comprehensively insured, ideally with fully comprehensive Excess.
  • Driver’s License: An international driver’s license is not mandatory, but it is advisable to carry it along with your national driver’s license (especially if you are staying on the island for a longer period).

Driving Mauritius

Traffic Rules on the Island

Like every country, Mauritius has traffic rules. Most traffic situations are regulated by roundabouts; traffic lights are often only found in cities. The rules for driving in roundabouts are similar to ours. When you’re in a roundabout, you always have the right of way.

You might be surprised, but there are some unwritten rules on the island regarding road traffic. If the driver in front of you sticks their arm out the window, they’re usually signaling that they’re about to turn. If a driver behind you honks their horn, they’re probably trying to indicate that they’re about to overtake you. Stay in your lane and let them pass.

The blood alcohol limit is 0.5%. Drinking and driving is strictly enforced in Mauritius, and penalties for violations are severe. Using a cell phone while driving is only permitted with a hands-free device. Violation can result in heavy fines. Important if you are traveling with children: Children under 10 years old are not allowed to sit in the front seat.

Speed limits

  • In urban areas: 50 km/h (unless signs indicate otherwise).
  • Outside urban areas: 80 km/h on country roads.
  • Motorways: 110 km/h, but there may be sections with lower limits.

Traffic rules in Mauritius

Car rental in Mauritius & Navigation

The towns in Mauritius are very well signposted. Nevertheless, we generally always use a navigation app when abroad. We recommend Google Maps or MAPS.me. With Google Maps, you can download the map you want in advance and use it offline.

The MAPS.me app offers offline maps of the entire world. Here, you can also download the map you want in advance. Once you get there, you can then navigate offline around the island.

Fueling and Parking on the Island

Most parking spaces are free; in major cities like Port Louis, Rose Hill, Curepipe, and Quatre Bornes, there are also paid parking spaces. Here, you usually need a parking ticket. And the cool thing is that you can even buy them in advance at gas stations.

These tickets are valid for either 30 minutes or one hour (cost: between 5 and 10 rupees per 30 minutes, depending on the zone). However, we never needed a parking ticket during our entire time in Mauritius, as we often took the bus.

Gas stations can be found at regular intervals. There are gas station attendants everywhere who will fill up your tank and collect your money. So you don’t even have to get out of your rental car.

If you’re traveling at night, you should fill up beforehand, as most gas stations on the island don’t offer 24-hour service. One liter of gasoline currently costs €1.32 (as of November 2024).

Road conditions Mauritius rental car

Taxi Tours in Mauritius

If you don’t feel like cruising around the island in a car, you can of course also order a taxi. If you’re lucky, your driver will be chatty and will tell you some interesting facts about the island. Be sure to ask him about his favorite beach and restaurant.

You can also book a taxi driver in Mauritius for a whole day. These day trips cost on average around €80. Then you have the car to yourself and can always decide where the driver should take you. These taxi drivers usually know the island better than anyone else anyway. Recommended: Sam Tours.

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Bus Travel on the Island

If you don’t feel like driving a car or taking a taxi, you can of course also take the local buses. These will take you from A to B within a region at a reasonable price. However, long journeys aren’t worth it, as you should really allow plenty of time for them.

The buses seem to stop every 100 meters. Our journey from the airport to our first accommodation in Mauritius took us a full 6 hours (50 kilometers). While this trip only cost us €2, you should still consider it carefully.

In general, we can absolutely recommend the buses for short or medium-length journeys. A ride usually costs only €0.50 – €1. However, there is no exact schedule, and buses come whenever they want. So it’s not uncommon to have to wait 20 to 30 minutes for a bus (Bus overview).

You can recognize the colorful buses from a distance. There’s a sign on the front window indicating the direction the bus is traveling. Simply hop in, find a seat, and wait for the attendant to collect your money. In the island’s capital, Port Louis, there is a “North Station” and a “South Station.” All northbound buses depart from the North Station, while all southbound and westbound buses depart from the South Station.

Mauritius-Travel-Tips-Bus-Driving-Transport

Rent a scooter in Mauritius

We’re often asked whether you can rent a scooter in Mauritius. Yes, you can easily rent scooters in Mauritius, which gives you flexibility and independence when exploring the island. There are several rental companies offering scooters at varying prices.

For example, Riderly offers scooters starting at around €10 per day. POP Mauritius rents 125cc scooters for around €15 per day with a minimum rental period of three days. Holiscoot also offers scooters and motorcycles, although prices vary depending on the model.

With a European category B driver’s license, you can usually drive scooters up to 125cc. For more powerful models, you will need a corresponding motorcycle license. An international driver’s license is recommended, especially if you are staying on the island for more than four weeks.