Renting a car is by far the best way to explore Mauritius: the northern beaches, the south-western mountains and the fishing villages of the east coast are only truly reachable by car. But before you turn the key, a few local rules are worth knowing — especially if you come from a country that drives on the right.
You drive on the left
A British heritage: Mauritius drives on the left, with the steering wheel on the right. If it is your first time, don't worry — most drivers adjust within half a day. Our tips: spend a few minutes in the agency car park getting used to the controls, be extra careful at your first roundabouts and when leaving car parks (the reflex to drift right comes back quickly), and remember the rule of thumb: the driver always sits next to the centre line of the road.
Is your licence valid?
Visitors can drive with their home licence if it is written in English or French, for the duration of a tourist stay. If your licence is in another language, an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended. Always carry the original document: you will need it at vehicle pick-up and at any police check.
Speed limits and cameras
General limits are 40 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside towns and 110 km/h on the motorway (the M1–M2 axis running from the airport to the north). Some 60 km/h zones exist near schools and shopping areas. Beware: fixed speed cameras are common and fines are billed to the rental agency… which will pass them on to you. The legal alcohol limit is low and weekend checks are frequent — the simplest rule is not to drink at all when driving.
Local habits to anticipate
- Buses often stop without warning, sometimes in the middle of the lane: keep your distance.
- Pedestrians, dogs and sometimes unlit motorbikes use the roadside at night — slow down after sunset.
- Inland roads (Chamarel, Grand Bassin) are narrow and winding: a light horn tap before blind bends is the local custom.
- Heavy rain makes some surfaces slippery and low sections can flood: slow right down.
- At roundabouts, priority goes to vehicles already on the roundabout, coming from your right.
Fuel and parking
Petrol stations are plentiful and an attendant fills up for you (cash and cards accepted almost everywhere). In towns, especially Port Louis, paid parking works with scratch coupons sold at petrol stations. At beaches and tourist sites parking is usually free — just avoid leaving valuables visible in the car.
With these basics, driving in Mauritius is genuinely enjoyable: distances are short, the scenery changes every fifteen minutes and a car gives you total freedom. All that remains is choosing the right vehicle — and we have a guide for that too.