Nobody goes on holiday thinking about accidents. But in Mauritius, with narrow roads, buses and tropical downpours, a bump or a puncture happens more often than you would think. Knowing what to do makes all the difference, for your safety and for your deposit.
Numbers to save before you set off
- Police: 999 (112 also works from a mobile).
- SAMU (ambulance): 114.
- Fire service: 115.
- The agency's assistance number, printed on the agreement: save it in your phone when you collect the car.
After an accident: the steps in order
- Make it safe: hazard lights on, passengers off the road.
- If anyone is hurt, call 114 and the police on 999, and do not move the vehicles.
- Photograph everything before moving: positions, damage, plates, signs, road condition.
- Take the other driver's name, phone, licence number, registration and insurer, and witnesses' details.
- Call the agency before signing anything or agreeing to settle privately.
- If the police did not attend, report the accident at the nearest police station, usually within 24 hours: the insurer needs this report. The agency will tell you which station and will often go with you.
What not to do
- Accept cash or an off-the-record deal from the other driver: without a report the insurance does not apply and the excess is yours.
- Have the car repaired yourself, even something small: only the agency chooses the garage.
- Admit liability in writing before speaking to the agency.
- Drive on with a red warning light showing.
Flat tyre, battery, warning light: breakdowns
Park somewhere safe and call the agency: it arranges the repair or brings a replacement car, sometimes within the hour if you are near its base. On an island the size of Mauritius, local agencies respond quickly.
For a puncture you can fit the spare if you know how and the spot is safe, but tell the agency first. Note that tyres are often excluded from basic insurance, so the repair may be at your expense. Our insurance guide covers exclusions (rentcar.mu/blog/assurance-location-voiture-maurice-franchise).
What happens to the deposit?
After an at-fault accident or damage with no third party identified, the agency can keep up to the excess, Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 with our partner agencies. If the other driver is at fault and the police report confirms it, their insurer pays: ask the agency how it handles your deposit in that case.
Photos and the pick-up condition report are your best evidence. See our guide to deposits and condition reports (rentcar.mu/blog/caution-assurance-etat-des-lieux).
Careful driving is still the best prevention: our guide to driving in Mauritius (rentcar.mu/blog/conduire-a-maurice-guide-complet) and our article on the rainy and cyclone season (rentcar.mu/blog/conduire-saison-pluies-cyclones) list the risky situations.
