Short answer: renting a car in Mauritius from a licensed local agency costs from around Rs 1,200 a day for a small economy car in low season, up to around Rs 10,000 a day for a luxury model in high season. Most travellers pay somewhere between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 a day. These figures come from our car rental price barometer (rentcar.mu/barometre-prix), which tracks the public rates of licensed agencies across the island, insurance included.
Below you will find the full price ranges by category and season, what to add on top for fuel and extras, how the deposit works, and rough conversions for visitors budgeting in pounds, rand or Indian rupees. Whether you are flying in for a fortnight or you live on the island and need a car while yours is off the road, the same logic applies.
Car hire prices by category and season
Prices are per day, in Mauritian rupees (Rs), from licensed agencies with insurance included. They are indicative ranges, not quotes: the actual price depends on the agency, the exact model and how far ahead you book.
- Economy (city car): Rs 1,200–1,800 in low season, Rs 1,500–2,200 in mid season, Rs 1,800–2,800 in high season.
- SUV / 4x4: Rs 2,500–3,500 in low season, Rs 2,800–4,000 in mid season, Rs 3,200–4,800 in high season.
- Van / 9-seater: Rs 3,200–4,200 in low season, Rs 3,500–4,800 in mid season, Rs 4,000–5,500 in high season.
- Luxury / premium: Rs 4,500–7,000 in low season, Rs 5,000–8,000 in mid season, Rs 6,000–10,000 in high season.
When is car hire cheapest in Mauritius?
Seasons drive prices more than anything else. Low season runs from April to June and in September, mid season covers February to March and October to November, and high season is December to January plus July to August, when European school holidays and the festive period fill agency calendars.
For UK families tied to school holidays, the summer break falls squarely in high season, so booking early matters more than haggling. South African and Australian travellers often have more flexibility around their own school calendars, and shoulder months such as May, June or September can deliver both lower rates and a wider choice of cars, automatics included.
What that means in pounds, rand and rupees
Exchange rates move, so treat these as rough orders of magnitude only and check the live rate before you book. As a working assumption, we have used about Rs 60 to the pound, Rs 2.5 to the South African rand, Rs 0.53 to the Indian rupee and the site's usual Rs 47 to the euro.
- Typical traveller spend of Rs 1,500–2,500 a day: roughly £25–42, R600–1,000, ₹2,800–4,700 or €32–53.
- Economy car in low season, Rs 1,200–1,800 a day: roughly £20–30, R480–720 or ₹2,300–3,400.
- Economy car in high season, Rs 1,800–2,800 a day: roughly £30–47, R720–1,120 or ₹3,400–5,300.
- SUV in mid season, Rs 2,800–4,000 a day: roughly £47–67, R1,120–1,600 or ₹5,300–7,500.
Two example budgets
A couple renting an economy car for ten days in mid season would pay roughly Rs 15,000 to 22,000 for the car, before fuel. A family of four taking an SUV for a week in the July to August peak would be looking at roughly Rs 22,400 to 33,600. Booking a full week or longer generally brings the daily rate down compared with a two or three-day rental, so it is worth asking for a weekly price even if you only need the car for six days.
For a personalised estimate that adds fuel to the rental over the length of your stay, try our free budget calculator (rentcar.mu/calculateur-budget).
Fuel: a modest line in the budget
Fuel prices in Mauritius are set nationally and identical at every station. Since 29 September 2026, petrol costs Rs 77.70 per litre and diesel Rs 78.35. A small car uses around 5 to 6 litres per 100 km, so a typical stay with about 500 km of driving needs roughly Rs 1,950-2,350 of fuel. The island is small, so even an active itinerary rarely makes fuel a major cost.
Check the fuel policy when you collect the car. Most agencies record the level at pick-up and expect it back at the same level; if it comes back lower, the difference is charged.
Extras that change the final price
- Automatic gearbox: usually a little more expensive than manual. Worth it if you normally drive on the right; UK, South African and Indian drivers may be happy with a manual.
- Young driver surcharge: most agencies require drivers to be at least 21, and drivers aged 21 to 24 typically pay a supplement of around Rs 350 per day.
- Child seats: often Rs 100–200 a day, sometimes free. Reserve them in advance.
- Additional driver: often free or inexpensive with local agencies, but each driver must show their licence.
- One-way rental: dropping the car somewhere other than where you collected it often carries a flat fee of around Rs 1,500.
- Hotel delivery: convenient, sometimes charged depending on distance. Airport pick-up is often included, but confirm it.
- Excess reduction: rentals include third-party cover and a collision damage waiver with an excess; some agencies offer an optional excess buy-back.
The deposit: not a cost, but plan for it
Agencies ask for a security deposit at pick-up, usually as a hold on a bank card in the main driver's name. It is not charged unless there is damage, and the hold is released when the car comes back in the condition recorded at the start. The amount depends on the vehicle category and the agency, and it is higher for premium cars.
Make sure your card limit can absorb the hold alongside your holiday spending, warn your bank you are travelling, and ask whether a debit card is accepted. When a card machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose Mauritian rupees instead: dynamic currency conversion is almost always the more expensive option.
Why the cheapest offer is not always the cheapest
You will see cars advertised on social media well below the ranges above. Many are private vehicles rented informally, recognisable by a white or black front number plate. Legal rental cars in Mauritius carry yellow plates and a PSV licence, which comes with insurance that covers rental use. With an informal rental, that cover is unlikely to apply, and an accident could leave you paying for everything. A cash deposit with no paperwork may also be hard to recover.
When comparing quotes, compare like for like: insurance and excess, mileage policy, deposit amount, airport pick-up, and a proper inspection at pick-up and return. A slightly higher daily rate from a licensed agency is usually the better deal once those are taken into account.
How to get a good price
- Book early for December, January, July and August.
- Travel in low season if you can: April to June or September.
- Ask for a weekly rate rather than a daily one.
- Choose the smallest car that fits your group and luggage.
- Compare several licensed agencies at once with a single quote request.
RentCar.mu puts you in touch with licensed local agencies. Use the quote form below with your dates, car type and budget, and agencies reply with their offers. For the latest price ranges, keep an eye on the barometer (rentcar.mu/barometre-prix), and before you fly read our guides to airport car hire (rentcar.mu/blog/recuperer-voiture-aeroport-ssr) and driving in Mauritius (rentcar.mu/blog/conduire-a-maurice-guide-complet).