Seychelles Car Hire

Cheap car hire in the Seychelles is best arranged in advance, particularly in the high season when companies can run out of vehicles.

Compare prices before you go to find the cheapest car rental in the Seychelles and to take your time going over the fine print – it’s not a job you’ll want at the start of your holiday.

Only a few international chains (such as Hertz, Avis and Sixt) operate Seychelles car rental branches. Local agencies are well regulated and reliable too. You can arrange for pick-up at the airport or, once you’re settled in, at your hotel.

Compare the cheapest Seychelles car hire rates and you’ll find that the average cost is £35-£45 per day for a small hatchback, including theft and collision damage waiver. On Praslin, the prices are about £5 to £10 more expensive.

The minimum age for car hire in the Seychelles is 23.

At just two kilometres (16 miles) long and 17 kilometres (11 miles) wide, it’s perfectly possible to circumnavigate the main island of Mahé in a day. It’s a drive that takes you down to the wild, idyllic beaches of the south and through the island’s picturesque small towns.

Alternatively, you might like to spend a day exploring the interior and the Morne Seychellois National Park, where you can stop off and join hikers on a variety of trails that take you to some spectacular viewpoints. Other sights include the Colonial-style capital of Victoria, the Takamaka rum distillery and tea plantation, and the gorgeous Beau Vallon Beach.

Like Mahé, Praslin is a granite island with a ridge of small mountains running down the centre and spectacular beaches dotted around its fringes. Having a car allows you to explore the island with ease.

Visit the World Heritage-listed Vallée de Mai, where you can experience a unique old-growth tropical forest full of rare coco de mer palms.

1.    Cars drive on the left in the Seychelles, and the speed limit in towns is 40 kmh (25 mph). Out of town it is 65 kmh (40 mph), and on the dual carriageway between Victoria and the airport it’s 80 kmh (50 mph). On Praslin, the speed limit is 40 kmh (25 mph).

2.    Fuel has to be imported every six weeks and is therefore relatively expensive. All petrol stations are serviced and the cost of fuel is the same everywhere. There are only two service stations on Praslin.

3.    Don’t park under a coconut tree. If one falls on the car it could cause a considerable amount of damage!