CAR HIRE IN RWANDA
Hiring cars in Rwanda has been made easier, with most locals preferring it for moving around, while exploring their own attractions. So, you can hire a vehicle when you attend functions such as events and business meetings.
For the travelers, hiring a safari vehicle is the best way to explore the beauty of the Rwanda without being worried about schedules, thus enjoying freedom.
However, it has been a big challenge for car hire companies to keep up, especially those who couldn’t maintain their fleet during the two year travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
Given the challenges that come with car hire in Rwanda, many travelers get discouraged. However, we give you the following important tips to guide you as you hire your dream car and hit the road to discover ‘the land of a thousand hills’.
Different companies have different procedures for hiring cars but it’s very easy when hiring with Scenic Luxury Vacation because you simply select your desired destination as well as travel dates. This is followed by confirmation and payments.
Don’t limit your search to only one car hire website. Instead, sample different companies and go through their rental terms and conditions before zeroing down on a particular one. This will help in getting the best deals and opting for the one with more friendly terms.
Take time to properly check out the car, during vehicle inspection. This should be done in the presence of the company representative before driving off from the parking lot. In so doing, you will be saving yourself from paying for what is not worth your penny.
For this reason, ensure that all pre-existing damages, scratches and bumps (regardless of how small) are documented. Make sure that you have photo evidence of any scratches or bumps, if any, to avoid being implicated when you drop-off the car.
Inquire about any fuel policies, whether you have to drop-off the car with full tank or not and what will be the charge in case you don’t. To be safer, we recommend fueling on your own.
Like it is with flights and accommodation, good car deals might be difficult to come by, therefore advance booking will offer a greater chance of getting a juicer deal and nice car of your preference. Whether you need to use the car one month, three months or one year from today, it is advisable to book ahead of time.
One thing you might not know is that most car hire companies offer flexible rates which can change anytime so, by booking early, you save yourself from those last-minute changes.
If price is your concern, then you will avoid hiring cars from the airport because they tend to be expensive compared to the ones downtown or far from the airport premises. Yes, it is undeniable that sometimes you just wish to get into a car on arrival at the airport because they are more convenient, but this is likely to cost even more.
You will be surprised that rates for hiring cars in Rwanda differ according to locations. For instance, it is cheaper to hire a car from a company that is far from the airport versus near the terminal. In the city, you are likely to get cheaper rates for the same car.
Some car hire companies have tendencies of sneaking in hidden fees by confusing you with jargon in their terms and conditions. If you don’t understand anything on the rental contract, please don’t sign to avoid being charged for something you don’t understand. Things like optional extras like GPS and child seats can be avoided, one-way rental fees and additional driver fees can be avoided if you properly read and understand rental agreements.
Some car hire Companies will charge you for driving beyond a certain mileage and for this reason, it is always important to check-out the policies relating to mileage limitations to avoid paying extra.
Yes, you can drive in Rwanda with an International driver’s license, as long as it is valid for the time you are using it in the country and has to be printed in English or French. And in Rwanda, you drive on the right-hand side.
The minimum age for hiring a car in Rwanda is 20 years old. This is in line with the country’s legal driving age.