VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Seychelles International Airport (SEZ): on the east coast of Mahé, a short drive south of Victoria, the capital.
Why Rent a Car at Seychelles Airport
Mahé is small, but its hotels, beaches and viewpoints are scattered along a coastal road and across a mountain spine. Buses are cheap but slow and do not reach every beach, and taxis add up over several days. A car lets you choose your beach, stop at viewpoints and eat where you like.
Our advice: if you land late or tired, ask the provider to deliver the car to your hotel or collect it the next morning. Driving on an unfamiliar left-hand island road in the dark is not the best start.
Drive Times from SEZ
Times are approximate and change a lot with the hour and the season; use a live navigation app for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | ~10 km | about 20–30 min |
| Anse Royale | ~12–15 km | about 20–30 min |
| Beau Vallon | ~25 km | about 40–60 min via Victoria |
| Baie Lazare | ~20 km | about 30–45 min |
| Port Glaud | ~30 km | about 50–70 min |
| Anse Intendance | ~25 km | about 40–60 min |
Picking Up at SEZ: Meeting Points and Late Arrivals
How the car is handed over depends on the agency: some meet you in the arrivals area, some in the car park, some at a nearby yard with a shuttle, and many deliver to a hotel anywhere on Mahé. Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and do not rely on a named counter unless it is written on the car card. Small island fleets can run out in busy weeks, so book early and give the provider your flight number.
Late arrival? Many long-haul flights land late or early in the morning. Give the provider your flight number, confirm the meeting point and any out-of-hours fee, and ask whether the car can wait until daylight if you are tired.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- valid national driving licence and, depending on the agency and the licence, an International Driving Permit (IDP) — requirements can change, so confirm with the agency which documents it wants and check current rules before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
What Affects the Price of a Rental at SEZ
We do not quote a fixed price here, because rates for the same car change with dates and availability. Look at the live search for your exact days. The main factors:
- Season: the drier, calmer months around April–May and October–November and the peak holiday weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest; the months of stronger trade winds and heavier rain can be quieter, so rates and availability vary a lot by date
- Car class: an automatic SUV or pick-up costs clearly more than a compact car
- Rental length: weekly and longer rentals usually lower the daily rate
- Insurance level: full coverage adds a daily amount but often removes the deposit
- Pick-up and return place: airport and out-of-hours pick-up, delivery and one-way returns can carry fees
When you compare, look at the total with full coverage, not the base rate alone.
Seychelles Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Fuel, parking and fines are billed separately, and the excess on basic cover can be high on narrow roads where scrapes are common. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Airport Roads and the First Drive
The airport sits on a flat strip of the east coast, and the main road runs north to Victoria and south along the coast. Turn the wrong way out of the car park and it can be a long way to the next place to turn. Take a minute to set your navigation and mirrors before you leave, remember the left-hand rule, and drive the first few kilometres slowly. Fines and parking charges are sent to the agency, which bills you after the rental.
- Set navigation before pulling out and keep left at the first roundabout
- Avoid your first drive in heavy rain or after dark
- Check the spare wheel and tools with the agent before you leave
Driving Near SEZ: Roads and Habits
The coast road is relatively easy, but the roads that cross the island climb steeply with hairpin bends, narrow lanes and drains right at the edge. Buses and trucks often take the middle of the road, so slow down early and give them room. Rain can make the surface slippery within minutes.
- Traffic drives on the left; look right when pulling out and keep the car well inside your lane on bends
- Island roads are very narrow, steep and winding, often with no shoulder and deep concrete drains right at the edge of the tarmac
- Speed limits are low and signed (typically around 40 km/h in villages and up to about 65 km/h on open stretches); speed cameras and police checks are possible
- Buses and trucks often run in the middle of the road on bends; slow down, stop early and give them room
- Strict drink-driving limit — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- No handheld phone; seatbelts are compulsory and children need a suitable seat
- Heavy tropical rain can cause slippery surfaces, mud and fallen debris on hill roads
- Do not drive on beaches or unpaved tracks: insurance is not valid there
- A rental car stays on the island where it was rented; check with the agency before moving it by ferry
Best Day Trips from Mahé Airport by Car
Car Rental at Other Seychelles Pick-Up Points
If your trip starts elsewhere, pick up closer to your first night and save a long drive after landing.