A rental car costs Rs 1,200 – 1,800 per day from a local agency, Rs 2,500 and up from the big airport brands. Small Mauritian agencies are often excellent and cheaper — but check three things before paying: that the contract includes full insurance (CDW), the exact excess amount (often Rs 15,000 – 25,000) and that the deposit is a bank pre-authorisation, not cash. An agency demanding a cash deposit is a hard no.
The classic trap: phantom scratches. When picking up the vehicle, film it from every angle, smartphone in hand, including the roof, rims and interior — with the date visible. Send the video to the agency via WhatsApp right away: in case of a dispute on return, it's your best defence. Also check the spare wheel and jack, often missing, and the fuel level written on the contract.
As for scooters (Rs 500 – 800/day), caution is essential: many are rented without valid insurance, and in an accident you pay for everything. Demand the registration papers and insurance certificate, take a decent helmet (compulsory, Rs 500 fine otherwise) and absolutely avoid the M1/M2 motorway: scooters are banned there. Above 50cc, a motorbike licence is required — a car licence is not enough.
On the road: driving is on the left, fixed speed cameras are everywhere on the motorway (110 km/h max, 80 or 60 elsewhere) and fines are sent to the agency, which will re-bill you with handling fees. Watch out for stray dogs at dusk, buses pulling out without warning and pedestrians on the road in villages. In Port Louis, parking is paid with coupons (about Rs 50/hour, sold at petrol stations) — no visible coupon means a guaranteed ticket.
Local tip: book directly via WhatsApp with an agency recommended by your guesthouse — free delivery to your accommodation, a fair starting fuel level and prices that drop from three days' rental. And fill up yourself before returning the car: petrol is a fixed price across the island (around Rs 66 per litre), so don't bother hunting for the cheapest station — it doesn't exist.