Short answer: for a tourist stay, Mauritius accepts a valid foreign driving licence written in English or French. If your licence is in another language or script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended, carried together with your original licence. In practice that means most UK, Irish, South African and Australian visitors can drive on their home licence, while Indian licence holders should check how their card is printed.
This guide sets out what the rules mean for you, what rental agencies actually check at the counter, and the practical points that trip people up. It sticks to what is well established; where details depend on your situation, we say so, and the agency you rent from or the Mauritian authorities have the final word.
The rule for visitors in plain English
Mauritius recognises foreign licences written in English or French for the duration of a tourist stay. Your licence must be valid, with a photo, and you must carry the original physical document whenever you drive. A photocopy, a photo on your phone or a digital licence app will not be accepted by agencies or by the police.
A standard car licence covers all the usual hire cars: city cars, SUVs and people carriers. If you plan to drive something unusual, ask the agency before booking.
UK licence holders
A UK photocard licence is written in English, so it is accepted for a tourist stay without an IDP. Check the expiry date on the card before you travel, as the photocard has to be renewed periodically and an expired card is not valid. If you are unsure whether anything about your licence could cause a question at the counter, a quick message to your agency before you fly is the easiest way to be sure.
The bonus for UK drivers: Mauritius drives on the left in right-hand-drive cars, with road signs in English and roundabouts that work exactly as at home. Very little needs relearning.
South African licence holders
South African licences are printed in English and are accepted in Mauritius for a tourist stay. The point to watch is the card's validity: South African licence cards carry an expiry date, so check yours will still be valid on your last day of driving, not just on arrival. Bring the card itself; a temporary document or a photo of the card may not be accepted, so ask your agency in advance if you are in that situation.
Like UK drivers, South Africans will find left-hand traffic and right-hand-drive cars completely familiar. The main differences are lower speed limits than on South African national roads, and many speed cameras.
Indian licence holders
India also drives on the left, so the roads will feel natural. The licence question depends on how your card is printed. Where all the details on your licence appear in English, it falls under the English or French rule. If parts of your licence are printed only in a regional script, or the details are hard to read, an International Driving Permit is the safe choice. In India, IDPs are issued through your Regional Transport Office, so allow time before departure.
Whatever your situation, confirm with your rental agency when you book which documents they need. Agencies can only hand over a car when they are satisfied the licence is valid and readable, so sorting this out before you fly avoids disappointment at the airport.
Australian, Irish and other English-speaking licences
Australian, New Zealand, Irish and Canadian licences printed in English are covered by the same rule as UK licences. Australians and New Zealanders are used to driving on the left, which makes Mauritius one of the easiest places in the region to hire a car. If your licence is in another language, for example from a European country whose licence is not in English or French, bring an IDP.
When to get an International Driving Permit
An IDP is an official translation of your national licence. It is not a licence on its own and is only valid when shown together with your original. It must be obtained in the country that issued your licence, before you travel; you cannot get one once you are in Mauritius.
Get one if your licence is not written in English or French, if parts of it are in a non-Latin script, or if you simply want extra peace of mind. Processing times vary by country, so apply as soon as your trip is booked.
What car hire agencies ask for at pick-up
- The main driver's original, valid licence, held for at least one year (some agencies ask for two years for certain vehicles).
- A minimum age of 21 at most agencies, with a young driver surcharge of around Rs 350 per day for drivers aged 21 to 24.
- An IDP alongside the original if your licence is not in English or French.
- A passport as ID.
- A bank card, usually in the main driver's name, for the deposit hold.
- The original licence of every additional driver you want on the contract.
Additional drivers and sharing the driving
Planning to share the driving with a partner or friend? Each person who drives must be named on the rental contract and show their own original licence at pick-up, with an IDP where their licence is not in English or French. Additional drivers are often free or inexpensive with local agencies, but the same age and licence-seniority conditions usually apply to them as to the main driver. Someone who is not on the contract should not drive the car at all: if anything happens, the insurance may not cover them.
Police checks: what to expect
Roadside checks are common, particularly in the evenings and at weekends. You will be asked for your licence, and possibly the vehicle papers, which the agency normally leaves in the glovebox. Keep your licence, passport or a copy of it, and the rental agreement in the car. The legal alcohol limit is low and speed cameras are widespread; any fine on a hire car is sent to the agency and passed on to you.
Renting from a licensed operator matters here too. Legal rental cars carry yellow number plates and a PSV licence with insurance that covers rental use. If you drive a privately rented white-plate car, you may find yourself without valid insurance at exactly the wrong moment.
Living in Mauritius? A note for residents and expats
The English-or-French rule described here is for visitors on a tourist stay. If you have moved to Mauritius for work, retirement or family reasons, different rules may apply to how long you can keep driving on a foreign licence and when you need a Mauritian one. We do not want to guess on your behalf: check your situation with the Mauritian authorities, and tell your rental agency that you are resident when you book.
Before you book
Check your licence's expiry date, decide whether you need an IDP, and make sure every driver has their licence with them. Then tell the agency about any doubt when you request a quote: it is far easier to sort out by message than at the counter.
For the rules of the road themselves, read our complete guide to driving in Mauritius (rentcar.mu/blog/conduire-a-maurice-guide-complet) or the quick version for first-timers (rentcar.mu/blog/conduire-a-maurice-guide). Our guide to airport car hire (rentcar.mu/blog/recuperer-voiture-aeroport-ssr) explains what happens when you land, and the frequently asked questions page (rentcar.mu/faq) covers deposits and insurance.