Driving in Mauritius: Everything you need to know as a Tourist

In Mauritius people drive on the left side of the road, following the British system. The driver’s seat is on the right side of the vehicle.

So, if you come from the USA or continental Europe and you are not familiar driving on the left side, we recommend you being extra cautious at the beginning.

Should I rent a car in Mauritius? you may wonder. The answer is definitely yes. 

With car hire in Mauritius, you have the following advantages:

Flexibility: You can create your own plan, stop wherever you want and visit off-the-beaten-path beaches or mountainous areas that are inaccessible with other means of transportation.

Convenience: Especially if you travel with kids or have heavy luggage, driving your own car is the most convenient way to avoid overcrowded public transport and visit all spots at your own pace.

Time-saving: You won’t have to wait a bus or a taxi, and thus you can take the most out of your trip.

Cost-effective: Renting a car is cheaper than booking multiple tours or paying for taxis with multiples routes or long distances.

Although there is public transportation in Mauritius, things are not very convenient this way. There is a wide bus network, but if you want to go from one side of the island to the other, you have to make many stops and transits, missing time and convenience.

On the other hand, the rail system connects only Port Louis to Curepipe, with stops in key towns like Rose Hill and Quatre Bornes. So, this solution is not viable, if you want to visit other areas and go off-the-beaten-track.

In summary, do you need to rent a car in Mauritius? Yes, if you want to explore remote areas, have your own plan and avoid the crowds.

The minimum age to rent a car in Mauritius is 21 years and the maximum age is 77 years. If you are younger or older that these ages, you may have to pay young or senior driver fee or rent only some car categories.

You can drive your own car in Mauritius with your national license for only 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP). IDP is required also if your national license is not in Latin Alphabet and if you want to rent a car in Mauritius.

With car rental, you can discover everything Mauritius has to offer and make unique routes. Highly advisable is to drive across Mauritius and enjoy breathtaking views.

But how long does it take to drive across Mauritius? Can you drive around Mauritius in a day?

The island is 65 km long and 45 km wide, so it is perfect for a day road trip. Depending on the traffic and the route, you may need 3-4 hours to go from one side of the island to the other.

The speed limits in Mauritius -unless otherwise stated via local signs- are: 

-Within city 40 km/h.

-Outside city 80 km/h.

-Motorways 110 km/h.

Other driving rules you should remember:

Seat belts: The use of seat belts is mandatory for all passengers.

Child seat: Children under 12 years old must use appropriate child seats.

Mobile phone: Speaking to your mobile phone is not allowed. It is permitted while driving only with hands-free device.

Alcohol consumption: Driving after having drunk alcohol is strictly prohibited. The limit is 0,05%, so practically, you can’t drink and drive in Mauritius and you should be careful, as alcohol tests are common and penalties are strict.

If you are about to rent a car, you may wonder if it is safe to hire a car in Mauritius. The answer is yes.

Roads are well-maintained, drivers have generally calm behavior and signage is in English and French. 

However, in rural areas, roads are narrow with steep turns and there are many cyclists and animals passing the streets.

So, we recommend you remember these tips to drive safely in Mauritius:

• Avoid night driving in rural areas, as lighting is poor and inadequate.
• Don’t leave valuables in your car.
• Drive cautiously in remote areas, especially if you are not familiar with narrow local roads.
• During the rainy season (January – March), drive slowly due to low visibility.
• Use navigation app to check traffic and find the safest route. If the usage of internet data is expensive for roaming, please ask us about the option to use GPS in the car.

Yes, driving in Mauritius is easy, as roads are well-maintained, signage is in English and French and distances are short.

However, there is a major challenge: In Mauritius, driving is on the left side of the road, so you must be very careful if you are not familiar with left-driving. There are also many roundabouts, as in most countries following the British system.

How is the traffic in Mauritius? Traffic is heavy during rush hours in major towns and touristic areas, such as Port Louis, Curepipe, Quatre Bornes, Rose Hill, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac. However, if you avoid peak hours, you will have a stress-free drive.

No, there are no toll roads in Mauritius. All highways and public roads are free to use, making it convenient for both locals and tourists to explore the island without additional road charges.

The best time of year for driving in Mauritius is during the dry, cooler months, namely from May to November. During this season, humidity is low, as is the chance of rain. Temperatures are also mild (20-25 degrees) and generally you avoid the rain and cyclones that appear during summer in tropical climates.

Thus, you should avoid summer (December – April), when the temperatures are hot, humidity is high, rains are heavy and frequent and there is also the chance of cyclones, making driving dangerous.

You can rent a car in many places in Mauritius, such as Port Louis (the capital city), Grand Baie on the north side, Flic en Flac on the west coast or Curepipe.

However, the most convenient spot is SSR International Airport (Plaine Magnien), where you can rent a car as soon as you land and avoid public transportation or paying a taxi to go to your hotel.

No for multiple reasons.

First of all, rental agreements require driving the car only on the island, without having the permission to leave it.

However, the most important reason is that connection to nearby islands, such as Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Aigrettes, or Ile aux Benitiers, is made only via small boats and catamarans that don’t carry cars.

If you want to explore nearby islands, you can park your rental car at the port and use the local boat services.

Start now planning your journey to this unique destination and rent a car in Mauritius with Abbycar to discover all its exotic beauties hassle-free and on a budget!