Tips For Renting A Car In Mauritius
Heaven on earth is commonly framed as a small island, but as many who have already visited this island might have experienced, the 2040 km² island might be tiny compared to other places in the world but is teeming with a plethora of activities and places of interest just waiting to be discovered by you.
There exist many means of transport that anyone could use to move from any point on the island to another. However, the most comfortable and best way to travel throughout the island is undeniably by using a car.
Whether you have already ever rented a car or it is soon going to be your first time doing it, renting a car might seem a rather simple thing to do at first sight, but like many other things which are seemingly simple, there exists many tricks or loopholes which you could end up suffering from if you are careless or simply unaware of them. Therefore, here is a list of tips which you will most probably find useful to know before you rent a car in Mauritius and followingly help you spend the best and most problem-free holidays during your stay on the heavenly island.
1. Give a thorough check
This might go without saying, but you must make sure to always perform a thorough check on the vehicle before pulling the car out of the parking lot. Observe every possible corner of the car, the interior as well as exterior, even the engine, battery, and other such things. If you are booking with us, don’t worry we will help you with the check. We have in place a checklist which will be provided on arrival and everything is done systematically.
If you’re going for another car rental company in Mauritius, then inform the staff of any of your findings and it would be wise to also document them by means of photos. Furthermore, it is paramount that you ensure that you are getting a roadworthy vehicle and not anything which might break down on you. At EasyCab, you are sure to have new, clean, and highly maintained vehicles. See all our cars here.
Checking the vehicle for any damage existing pre your use of it helps to ensure that you will not be charged wrongfully for these faults and damages by the rental company. If everything is within a satisfactory level, then we proceed to all pertaining paper works. Mandatory documents required are the original driver’s license, original passport, and proof of stay in Mauritius.
A signed copy of the rent contract will be handed to the driver and at the back of which we have all the terms and conditions of Easycab. Upon a routine road check, you may require to produce the rented contract by a traffic control officer upon request. Other documents that may also be requested are the car PSV license, Papier amiable, fire extinguisher, yellow chalk, and other accessories that are listed in the checklist. Please note that in case of any pre-booking query or post-car delivery issues we shall be available on WhatsApp to help.
2. Deposit and Payment
All cars at Easycab are delivered upon full payment. The Cash on delivery option is very popular these days and many clients would just opt for it as it gives a sense of security before committing themselves in the rental contract. One more facility we offer is payment in Dollars, Euros, and Mauritian rupee as COD. On rare occasions, clients have also settled their dues in both Mauritian rupees and Dollars. Yes, at Easycab we do that as well in case of insufficient currency. We are planning on reintroducing the swipe machine in case some would still prefer to pay via card, please let us know in the comment section below. In case of any extension, please contact the company at least 1 day prior to extend the contract with duly signed papers.
One thing you should know is that some car rental companies, not just in Mauritius require a deposit. At EasyCab, we do not take deposits, whether it is for the car itself or our extras. But it is good you know about it. Most of the time you will also be required to pay by credit card. Just do your best to read and understand the rental contract. Some car rental companies will lock an amount as a form of guarantee in case of an accident or damage of the vehicle. Just be wary of this paper stuff when hiring a car for your holidays in general. At EasyCab, we have client-friendly terms and conditions. In case of any accident, the terms laid down in clause 4 are applicable.
3. Avoid renting a car at the airport
When renting a car, one of the most important questions to ask is, where to rent a car? The answer to this should by no means, as the title suggests, the airport. The privilege to get into a car the moment you step foot on land is one which is extremely costly if you choose to rent a car at the airport car rental booth. It is very expensive for these rental companies to operate in the airport itself and hence they are obligated to pass over this additional cost to no one else other than the customer renting a car.
Simply avoid wasting your money like this. You can also rent your car with a small car rental agency like EasyCab. In fact, we deliver and pick up your vehicle for free at the SSR International Airport and 4 other locations.
4. Excess Policy
The excess policy is applicable in case of accidents. There are four scenarios when a driver might need to settle the excess fee or part of it. The first thing to do in case of an accident or damage to the car, call your rental company. A member shall soon come to help. If the rentee is not guilty then an ‘accord amiable is done’ where other driver takes the blame and an excess fee is NOT chargeable. A replacement car shall be provided to cover the remaining days left in the contract.
The second case where the rentee is guilty then things get a little bit different. The excess fee is chargeable as laid down in the contract. Our member shall help in completing all the paper works but in this case, the rentee takes the blame for the accident. In this case, also a replacement car shall be provided to cover the remaining days left in the contract.
Third case if the renter is involved in an accident and the same found under influence of alcohol or any other noxious substance, vehicle damage is NOT covered by any insurance and as laid down in the insurance policy, the rentee takes charge of any damage liable to the rental company. In this case, the excess policy is not applicable and the whole damage is borne by the rentee. We advise clients to drive safe as a vacation shall have good memories only and no company would wish for any unwanted situations like these.
One last case where full excess or part of the amount may be charged is if any damage is not reported to the company and the officer finds out while inspecting the car on return. Please note that in case damages that do NOT involve any second motor vehicle, full excess of part of it is chargeable depending on the extent of damage caused to the vehicle. Don’t want any surprises while returning the car? We have a solution for that as well, get additional insurance for a minimal daily fee that covers all minor body scratches. Damages to windshield, windows, mirrors, headlights, tires, interiors are NOT covered.
5. Additional Drivers
An interesting option offered by Easycab is additional drivers. Why opt for additional drivers? Most of the time during crazy nights and parties people get drunk and if that person decides to take the wheels then he is not only breaching the road traffic act but also putting the life of his loved ones at risk. At Easycab, we offer one additional driver provided all the necessary documents have been produced before leaving the airport parking lot
If John rents a car, his wife Jane OR Son Jack would obtain a free pass to drive provided a valid license is produced and the same to be included in your rental contract before hitting the road. Want to put both Jack and Jane as an additional driver? No problem, we have a solution for that as well, either Jack or Jane gets a free pass and the other pays for a minimal daily fee and gets listed as the third driver.
6. Stay on the road & respect laws
This one might be pretty obvious but is actually ignored or just simply forgotten by many. Unless you have paid extra for a 4×4, it is generally a very bad idea to go offroading. Off-roading is not only limited to driving on muddy and rocky terrain but driving on any terrain which is not asphalt or paved. This might be going over grassy lanes or sandy beaches. If it ever happens that you get stuck on an off-road path, it would cost a lot to get the car out of there. Additionally, driving on such terrains damages the car, and this damage will be visible to the rental company when you return the car, for which you will be charged additionally. At EasyCab, you will not have to pay any excess for small paint scratches but we do encourage you to keep the vehicle in good shape and clean as possible for the next user.
Complying with the road traffic act is what makes a driver responsible. There are a lot of speed cameras around the island and during the rental period, any speeding or parking tickets obtained would automatically be issued on the rentee’s name. Drive safe and enjoy Mauritian hospitality. Now that you have all the useful advice to enhance your stay in Mauritius, dare to discover the nooks and crannies of the island on your own by renting a car. For more information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Please note that we are also available on WhatsApp for any other query or in case of any road assistance.
7. Know the fuel policy & cleanliness
Once your stay in Mauritius is over, and you have just finished spending the time of your life, it is finally the hour of returning the car back to the rental company. Before doing this, it would be a very good idea to fill the petrol tank. While it is possible for you to return the car back as is, without filling it up, you are highly recommended against it. Some car rental companies will do it themselves, however, it can happen that you get charged more.
At EasyCab, we have a full tank fuel or ½, ¾, or ¼ mark policy. It simply means that we deliver your vehicle either full or with the gauge on half, three or one quarter, and you return us the vehicle on the same mark.
Now that you have all the useful advice to enhance your stay in Mauritius, dare to discover the nooks and crannies of the island on your own by renting a car.
Cleaning the car might be an issue for many travelers as not everyone has time to queue up at the car wash. At Easycab, we charge a minimal fee of 5 Euro if the car is not returned in the same condition as delivered although we are flexible on this clause.
For more information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
